Validation of the Spanish version of the Glasgow Dyspepsia Severity Score

To translate, adapt and validate the Spanish version of the Glasgow Dyspepsia Severity Score (GDSS).

The translation into Spanish and the adaptation of the scale was carried out by specialized medical translators. The comprehensibility of the translated scale was assessed by two independent observers and by the research team. GDSS includes eight items and was filled out once by 40 healthy subjects (control group) and twice by 131 patients with functional dyspepsia. After the first measurement, patients were prescribed a H2 blocker (roxatidine) for 2 months. A second evaluation was carried out 6 months after the beginning of the treatment.

The comprehensibility of the questionnaire was good. It showed acceptable internal consistency both for the control group (0.6) and for the patients at the inclusion visit (0.6) and good consistency for the patients at the 6 month follow-up evaluation (0.8). After treatment, the overall score decreased almost to half (p < 0.0001) in the patients, thus confirming the effectiveness of the treatment 4 months after its discontinuation, although their score was still higher than the score of the control group (p < 0.001).

Results suggest the usefulness of including the GDSS scale in the dyspeptic symptoms recording protocols, since it allow to estimate, with appropriate objectivity and in an easy and quickly way, the degree of impairment due to dyspeptic symptoms, as well as the perception of well-being and the effectiveness of a given therapy.