Persian Validation Study of the Quality of I-Rods Version of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy Patients; [بررسی اعتبار سنجی نسخه فارسی معیار I-Rods در بیماران پلی نوروپاتی دمیلینه کننده التهابی مزمن]



Shokoohi M ; Moeini R ; Malekian N ; Okhovat A A
Source: Tehran University Medical Journal Published:2025

Abstract

Background: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is the most common chronic autoimmune disorder of the peripheral nervous system, characterized by symmetrical weakness of proximal and distal muscles. It represents a subset of chronic acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies (CADP). As an immune-mediated condition that primarily affects peripheral nerves and nerve roots, its functional assessment requires validated, culturally adapted tools. This study aimed to translate the I-RODS (Inflammatory Rasch-Built Overall Disability Scale) into Farsi and evaluate its validity and reliability among Iranian patients with CIDP. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all patients diagnosed with CIDP according to the EFNS/PNS criteria who attended the Neuromuscular Clinics of Sina and Shariati Hospitals in Tehran between May 2023 and May 2024 were enrolled. After approval by the Ethics Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (IR.TUMS.SINAHOSPITAL.REC.1401.004), sociodemographic and clinical data including age, sex, education, occupation, disease duration, and comorbidities such as diabetes—were collected. The Persian version of I-RODS was prepared using the forward-backward translation method, reviewed by neuromuscular specialists, and refined for conceptual equivalence. Participants completed the I-RODS, INCAT, MRCSS, and SF-36 questionnaires. Results: A total of 63 patients (mean age: 55.92 ± 10.70 years; range: 19–75) were included. The internal consistency of the Persian I-RODS, assessed via Cronbach’s alpha, was 0.849, indicating excellent reliability. Patients reported higher performance in simple daily activities (e.g. reading) and lower performance in demanding tasks (e.g. running, prolonged standing). No significant association was found between I-RODS scores and demographic variables, confirming construct validity. Moreover, significant correlations of I-RODS with INCAT, MRC-SS, and SF-36 confirmed both criterion and concurrent validity. Conclusion: The Persian version of the I-RODS is a simple, comprehensible, reliable, and valid instrument for assessing activity and social participation in CIDP patients. Its strong correlations with established scales such as INCAT and MRC-SS support its use as a robust measure for evaluating functional status and disability levels across different CIDP subgroups. Copyright © 2025 Shokoohi et al. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted, provided the original work is properly cited.