Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Rheumatology International, cilt.46, sa.4, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Subclinical and overt inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequently observed in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA), traditionally identified through invasive ileocolonoscopic evaluation. Validated non-invasive assessing instruments are therefore needed to facilitate early detection. This study aimed to validate the Turkish version of the Dudley Inflammatory Bowel Symptom Questionnaire (DISQ) as a tool for assessing gastrointestinal symptom burden suggestive of intestinal involvement in patients with axial spondyloarthritis. In this cross-sectional validation study, 174 patients fulfilling the 2009 Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria for axial SpA were enrolled. Convergent validity was assessed by examining correlations between DISQ scores and disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI]), functional status (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index [BASFI]), and health-related quality of life (Short Form-36 [SF-36]). Discriminant validity was evaluated by comparing DISQ scores in patients with and without gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of IBD. Test–retest reliability was assessed by re-administration of the DISQ after one month. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. DISQ scores demonstrated moderate positive correlations with BASDAI (r = 0.432, p < 0.001) and BASFI (r = 0.248, p = 0.001), and a strong inverse correlation with SF-36 scores (p < 0.001), supporting convergent validity. Patients reporting diarrhea, abdominal pain, oral aphthae, or mucus in stool had significantly higher DISQ scores than those without these symptoms (all p ≤ 0.008), confirming discriminant validity. The Turkish version of the DISQ demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.70) and good test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.51–0.82; p < 0.001). The Turkish version of DISQ demonstrates satisfactory validity and reliability as a non-invasive assessment instrument for gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of bowel inflammation in patients with ax-SpA. Future studies incorporating endoscopic and biomarker-based outcomes are warranted to define clinically meaningful cut-off values and determine its role in routine clinical practice.