Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of Aberdeen Varicose Veins Questionnaire (AVVQ) in Patients With Varicose Veins of Lower Extremity: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Varicose veins in the lower extremities significantly impairs patients' quality of life, highlighting the importance of targeted quality of life assessments for specific diseases. The Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ) was specifically designed to assess the impact of lower extremity varicose veins on quality of life. This study comprised two phases: in the first phase, the AVVQ was translated and culturally adapted, and the second phase was an evaluation of the psychometric characteristics of the Chinese version of AVVQ in 328 patients with varicose veins of lower extremities. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the Chinese AVVQ comprises 13 items distributed across four dimensions, accounting for a total variance of 61.74%, with a Cronbach's α of 0.745 and a content validity index of 0.908. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between the AVVQ scores and the SF-36. In addition, the difference in AVVQ scores by CEAP classification was statistically significant. These findings affirmed the Chinese version of the AVVQ as both reliable and valid, making it a valid tool for evaluating the quality of life in Chinese patients with varicose veins and applicable across various international contexts and diverse patient populations.