Validation of the Spanish version of the Leicester cough questionnaire in children with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Antecedents: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients present chronic inflammation with a mucus thickness and decrease ciliar mobility, causing chronic cough, bacterial colonization and respiratory infections. Cough is one of the most important symptoms for CF and it is directly related to exacerbations. Also, represents an upset that affects quality of life and social relations.

Objective: Validate the Spanish version of the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) in CF.

Methods: After the adaptation to Spanish, the sample was selected by 58 CF patients from Corporacio Parc Tauli and Asociacion Madrilena Contra la Fibrosis Quistica, Spain. The questionnaire was administrated twice in stable disease patients in order to contrast the results.

Results: Patients characteristics: age 11.7 (3.1) years, BMI of 19 (13) kg/m². Total LCQ1 18.46 (2.4) vs LCQ2 18.69 (2.3) (p=0.769). Cronbach alpha coefficients was: LCQtotal (0.86) and for the domains: LCQphysical (0.76); LCQpsychological (0.79) and LCQsocial (0.78). The ICC was: LCQphysical (0.82), LCQpsychological (0.75), LCQsocial (0.63) and LCQtotal (0.83) (p<0.01 all).

We observed moderate correlations with specific quality of life questionnaire (CFQ-R): respiratory symptoms CFQ-R+14 (r=0.51) and CFQ-RChild (r=0.67) (p<0.01, both) and with pulmonary function, FVC and FVE1: LCQphysical (0.42 and 0.48); LCQpsychological (0.60 and 0,62) and LCQtotal (0.55 and 0.58), all significative (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The Spanish version of the LCQ is reliable and valid for CF patients, in which it has observed relations between quality of life and pulmonary functions.

Sponsored by: Proyecto AVANZA, TSI-020110-2009-431. Ministerio de Industria Turismo y Comercio, Spain.