Design and validation of a questionnaire for screening of venous insufficiency of the lower limbs
Sánchez del Corral, F.; Otero, A.; Alberdi, J.C.; Gómez, M.
Atencion Primaria 9(2): 66-72
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0212-6567 PMID: 1558936 Document Number: 401975
To carry out a questionnaire type test for screening of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) of lower limbs (LL) to be applied to clinical assistance. Observational type epidemiological study and validation of a test. Fuencarral Health Centre (Madrid). 100 patients with venous alterations of the lower limbs (cases) and 100 without alterations (control group) selected from the register of the Centre. The inclusion criteria was the presence of truncular varicose veins and/or valvular insufficiency detected by ultra-sound (Doppler). 20 variables were studied possibly associated with the disease and which could be collected by means of a questionnaire. From the epidemiological study, 13 simple questions with a YES/NO answer were chosen for the questionnaire, which collected information on the different variables selected. The maximum number of points of the test was 30. The value of each question was based on the strength of association (ODDS Ratio) and on the degree of reliability of the answers. The sensitivity and specificity of the test taking 14 points as the cutting point, was 82% in both cases. The ROC curve is indicated. Owing to the high prevalence of CVI of LL and to the possibilities of preventive measures if an early diagnosis is carried out, this questionnaire type test is considered useful among people attending the Health Centre and to be able to select those who require a more detailed and expensive diagnosis examination.