1024
The Journal of Rheumatology 2017; 44:7; doi:10.3899/jrheum.161202
Validity and Reliability of Patient Reported Outcomes
Measurement Information System Computerized
Adaptive Tests in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Shanthini Kasturi, Jackie Szymonifka, Jayme C. Burket, Jessica R. Berman, Kyriakos A. Kirou,
Alana B. Levine, Lisa R. Sammaritano, and Lisa A. Mandl
ABSTRACT. Objective. The aims of this study were to assess the construct validity and the test-retest reliability of
Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computerized adaptive
tests (CAT) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods. Adults with SLE completed the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, LupusQoL-US
version (“legacy instruments”), and 14 selected PROMIS CAT. Using Spearman correlations,
PROMIS CAT were compared with similar domains measured with legacy instruments. CAT were
also correlated with the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment–Systemic
Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) disease activity and the Systemic
Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI)
scores. Test-retest reliability was evaluated using ICC.
Results. There were 204 outpatients with SLE enrolled in the study and 162 completed a retest.
PROMIS CAT showed good performance characteristics and moderate to strong correlations with
similar domains in the 2 legacy instruments (r = –0.49 to 0.86, p < 0.001). However, correlations
between PROMIS CAT and the SELENA-SLEDAI disease activity and SDI were generally weak
and statistically insignificant. PROMIS CAT test-retest ICC were good to excellent, ranging from
0.72 to 0.88.
Conclusion. To our knowledge, these data are the first to show that PROMIS CAT are valid and
reliable for many SLE-relevant domains. Importantly, PROMIS scores did not correlate well with
physician-derived measures. This disconnect between objective signs and symptoms and the
subjective patient disease experience underscores the crucial need to integrate patient-reported
outcomes into clinical care to ensure optimal disease management. (First Release April 15 2017;
J Rheumatol 2017;44:1024–31; doi:10.3899/jrheum.161202)
Key Indexing Terms:
SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS PATIENT OUTCOME ASSESSMENT
QUALITY OF LIFE VALIDATION STUDY
From the Division of Rheumatology/Department of Medicine, Hospital for
Special Surgery; Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Supported by the Rheumatology Research Foundation Scientist
Development Award.
S. Kasturi, MD, MS, Division of Rheumatology/Department of Medicine,
Hospital for Special Surgery, and Weill Cornell Medicine; J. Szymonifka,
MA, Division of Rheumatology/Department of Medicine, Hospital for
Special Surgery; J.C. Burket, PhD, Healthcare Research Institute,
Hospital for Special Surgery; J.R. Berman, MD, Division of
Rheumatology/Department of Medicine, Hospital for Special Surgery, and
Weill Cornell Medicine; K.A. Kirou, MD, Division of Rheumatology/
Department of Medicine, Hospital for Special Surgery, and Weill Cornell
Medicine; A.B. Levine, MD, Division of Rheumatology/Department of
Medicine, Hospital for Special Surgery, and Weill Cornell Medicine;
L.R. Sammaritano, MD, Division of Rheumatology/Department of
Medicine, Hospital for Special Surgery, and Weill Cornell Medicine;
L.A. Mandl, MD, MPH, Division of Rheumatology/Department of
Medicine, Hospital for Special Surgery and Weill Cornell Medicine.
Address correspondence to Dr. S. Kasturi, Hospital for Special Surgery,
535 East 70th St., New York, New York 10021, USA.
E-mail: kasturis@hss.edu
Accepted for publication March 14, 2017.
The accurate measurement of health-related quality of life
(HRQOL), an important patient-reported outcome (PRO), is
critical to providing patient-centered care. This is especially
important in diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE), in which dramatically lower mortality rates have
refocused care on minimizing morbidity
1
. Physicians and
patients have different perceptions of the effect of SLE. For
example, patients focus on functional status whereas physi-
cians focus on laboratory values
2
. Further, it is well known
that SLE significantly decreases HRQOL
3
, but exactly how
HRQOL should best be defined and measured is unclear.
The US Food and Drug Administration, the European
Medical League, and the Outcome Measures in Rheuma-
tology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) group have identified
HRQOL as a crucial outcome measure for clinical trials and
observational studies in SLE
4,5,6
. They recommend the use
of both generic and disease-specific measures that would
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