VALIDATION OF THE RUSSIAN TRANSLATION OF THE LOW ANTERIOR RESECTION SYNDROME SCORE

Abstract

BACKGROUND. The main reason of impaired quality of life in patients undergoing low anterior resection for rectal cancer is Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS). A symptom-based scoring system for bowel dysfunction after low anterior resection for rectal cancer has been developed in 2012 and validated in many European countries. The aim of our study was to adapt the LARS score to the Russian language, and assess its psychometric properties. METHODS. The LARS questionnaire was translated into Russian using a standard procedure of double-back translation according to WHO and EORTC recommendations. At the first stage the LARS questionnaire and the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire were completed at the same time by 80 patients who underwent anterior/low anterior resection at the State Scientific Center of Coloproctology, Moscow, Russia. At the next stage 40 patients were interviewed with the LARS questionnaire by phone. RESULTS. Fifty-three patients (44,2%) had no LARS, 25 (20,8%) had minor LARS, and 42 (35%) had major LARS. The LARS score showed significant correlations with all the assumptive domains of EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire (р<0,05). According to the results of univariate analysis preoperative chemo-radiotherapy (р=0,009), splenic flexure mobilization (р=0,0003) and total mesorectal excision (р=0,02) increased LARS score. However, only splenic flexure mobilization in the binomial logistic regression model was the only independent factor, leading to major LARS (р=0,002). CONCLUSIONS. The Russian version of the LARS score shows acceptable psychometric properties and can be considered as a valuable and specific instrument to assess bowelfunction in rectal cancer patients, bothfor research purposes and in clinical practice.