Assessing diabetic polyneuropathy in Spanish-speaking patients: Translation and validation of the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score

Background and Aims

Diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSP) is a common complication of diabetes. The Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (TCNS) is a useful tool for detecting DSP. However, it is not available in Spanish. The study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the TCNS and modified (mTCNS) scales into Spanish and evaluate their measurement properties.

Methods

A multistep forward-backward method was used for translation and cultural adaptation. A panel of physicians subjected the final Spanish versions of TCNS and mTCNS (TCÑS, mTCÑS) to cognitive debriefing. Consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus and DSP were recruited from an outpatient clinic, and the TCÑS and mTCÑS were tested for construct validity, along with other measures.

Results

The internal consistency of both TCÑS and mTCÑS was excellent, as evidenced by Cronbach's Alpha coefficients of 0.83 and 0.85, respectively. Furthermore, there was a robust positive correlation between TCÑS and mTCÑS. In addition, TCÑS was found to exhibit a strong negative correlation with sural sensory nerve action potential amplitude (r = −0.9206) and peroneal compound motor action potential amplitude (r = −0.729), while demonstrating a positive and strong correlation with the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (r = 0.713).

Interpretation

The TCÑS and mTCÑS are reliable and valid translations of the original TCNS. The TCÑS and mTCÑS can be used to diagnose and measure the severity of neuropathy in Spanish-speaking patients with diabetes.