Source
Departamento de Neurologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP. jabmarti@fmrp.usp.br
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To validate a Portuguese version of the EK scale (Egen Klassifikation), that was developed in Denmark for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and spinal muscular atrophy.
METHODS:
An English version of the EK scale was translated into the Portuguese language as spoken in Brazil. This scale was applied to 26 male patients (mean age = 12.7 +/- 4.0 years) with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Patients also answered questions of a Portuguese version of the Barthel index questionnaire, and had their right and left hand grip forces measured with a dynamometer.
RESULTS:
The mean total EK scale score was 8.1 +/- 7.3 and the Barthel index 54.0 +/- 26.2. The mean hand grip force was 12.7 +/- 17.2 % predicted for the right hand, and 14.6 +/- 19.8 % predicted for the left hand. The EK scale scores showed highly significant statistical correlations with age (r= 0.596, p= 0.0013), right hand grip force (r= -0.556, p= 0.0032), left hand grip force (r= -0.623, p=0.0007), and Barthel index (r= -0.928, p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION:
This translated Portuguese version of the EK scale is an adequate tool to be used for Brazilian Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.