LAUSR

BACKGROUND There is no validated Arabic version of the French questionnaire of quality of life, the VQ11. This study aimed to test the applicability of the Arabic version of the VQ11 in Tunisian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS It was a prospective and cross-sectional study, spread over seven months, that included 40 stable COPD male patients. The Arabic version of VQ11, translated by a bilingual expert, was used. The functional, psychological, relational and total scores were calculated. Patients were divided into two groups according to the GOLD classification: "A-B" (n=25) and "C-D" (n=15). A significant correlation-coefficient (r) of≥0.51, between the VQ11 total score and the ADO index (age, dyspnoea, obstruction), and higher quality of life scores in GOLD "C-D" when compared to GOLD "A-B" would be in favour of application of the Arabic version of the VQ11. RESULTS The mean±standard deviation of age, post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC, ADO index and VQ11 total score were 64±8 years, 0.55±0.08, 4.8±1.7 and 2±10, respectively. A significant "r" (0.56) was identified between the ADO index and the total score. Psychological, relational and total scores of GOLD "A-B" patients were significantly lower than those in GOLD "C-D" patients: 10±4 vs. 12±3, 11±4 vs. 13±3 and 30±11 vs. 36±7, respectively. CONCLUSION The Arabic version of VQ11 is applicable in Tunisian COPD patients with reliable results.