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Analyzing Upper Extremity Disability From Health-Related Quality of Life in Chronic Chikungunya: A Biopsychosocial
Raildo Oliveira da Silva Filho1, Marynara Fabíola Silva Araújo1, Andreia Ravinia do Nascimento Oliveira1
1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Santa Cruz, Brazil.
Relevance To The Journal:
Responding to the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice's emphasis on person-centered care, this study examines how pain, functional capacity and vitality influence lived disability and rehabilitation needs in individuals with chronic chikungunya.
Rationale:
Chikungunya is an arbovirus transmitted by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and is the second most prevalent pathogen related to acute febrile illnesses in Latin America. Among the three possible phases of the disease (acute, subacute, and chronic), the chronic phase occurs when symptoms persist for more than 90 days. During this period, many individuals may experience functional deficits in their upper limbs, compromising daily activities and affecting their quality of life.
Aims And Objectives:
The aim of this study was to analyze upper limb functional disability based on health-related quality of life components in individuals with chronic chikungunya.
Method:
This cross-sectional observational study, with a quantitative approach, was carried out in the municipality of Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, from April to November 2023. Seventy-four individuals with chronic chikungunya sequelae participated in the study and were assessed using three instruments: a sociodemographic and health status questionnaire, developed by the research team; the Short Form-36 (SF-36); and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression to examine the independent association between SF-36 domains and upper limb disability, adopting a significance level of 5%.
Results:
Pain (β = -0.410), functional capacity (β = -0.274) and vitality (β = -0.233) were independently associated with upper-limb disability. Together, these variables explained 52.3% of the variability in DASH scores (R2 = 0.523).
Conclusion:
Pain, functional capacity and vitality were independently associated with upper limb disability in individuals with chronic chikungunya. These findings support a person-centered approach to rehabilitation by highlighting key domains that may guide individualized assessment and rehabilitation strategies for people living with chronic chikungunya.
