Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Duke Activity Status Index in Women With Lipedema (DASI-LIP)

September 1, 2026 updated by: Merve SEVINC GUNDUZ, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Validity and Reliability Study of the Turkish Version of the Duke Activity Status Index in Patients With Lipedema

This study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) in women with lipedema. DASI is a 12-item questionnaire designed to assess functional capacity based on activities of daily living. The study will examine the test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the Turkish DASI and investigate its validity by examining its relationships with functional exercise capacity, lower extremity function, and health-related quality of life. The findings are expected to determine whether the Turkish DASI is a valid and reliable tool for assessing functional capacity in women with lipedema.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Lipedema is a chronic disorder characterized by disproportionate and symmetrical accumulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue, predominantly affecting the lower extremities. Symptoms such as pain, heaviness, fatigue, and reduced mobility may adversely affect physical functioning and activities of daily living. Therefore, assessment of functional capacity is an important component of the clinical evaluation of individuals with lipedema.

The Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) is a 12-item self-administered questionnaire that evaluates functional capacity through activities of daily living. The total score ranges from 0 to 58.2, with higher scores indicating better functional capacity. The DASI score can also be used to estimate peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak).

This methodological study is designed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the DASI in women diagnosed with lipedema. Participants will undergo assessments including the DASI, Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The DASI will be administered again after a 7-day interval to evaluate test-retest reliability.

Test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the Turkish DASI will be examined. Construct validity will be evaluated by examining the relationships between DASI scores and measures of functional exercise capacity, lower extremity function, and health-related quality of life. The study aims to determine whether the Turkish version of the DASI provides a valid, reliable, and practical instrument for assessing functional capacity in women with lipedema.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

34

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

    • Eyupsultan
      • Istanbul, Eyupsultan, Turkey (Türkiye), 34250
        • Recruiting
        • Bezmialem Vakif University
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of adult women diagnosed with lipedema who meet the predefined eligibility criteria. Participants will be recruited from individuals evaluated for lipedema and referred for physiotherapy assessment. Eligible participants who voluntarily agree to participate and provide informed consent will be enrolled in the study. The study population will be used to evaluate the validity and test-retest reliability of the Turkish version of the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Female sex. Aged 18 to <65 years. Diagnosis of lipedema. No participation in a physiotherapy program within the previous 3 months. No history of liposuction surgery. Not currently following a weight-loss diet. No change in body weight greater than 10% within the previous 6 months. Willing to participate in the study and able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Severe visual or cognitive impairment. Severe cardiovascular disease. Musculoskeletal disorders or injuries affecting the lower extremities, including osteoarthritis, contracture, or osteoporosis, that may interfere with study assessments.

Skin conditions that may interfere with the assessments, such as pressure ulcers.

Uncontrolled endocrine disorders, including type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus or hypothyroidism.

Obesity secondary to endocrine disorders or medication-induced obesity. Use of estrogen-progestin therapy within the previous 2 months. Pregnancy or a positive pregnancy test. Breastfeeding. Concurrent participation in another clinical trial.

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Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Women With Lipedema
Women diagnosed with lipedema who meet the eligibility criteria will be included in this study. Participants will undergo assessments of functional capacity, lower extremity function, and health-related quality of life using the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The DASI will be administered again after 7 days to assess test-retest reliability.
The Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) is a 12-item self-administered questionnaire used to assess functional capacity based on activities of daily living. The total score ranges from 0 to 58.2, with higher scores indicating better functional capacity. The Turkish version of the DASI will be administered at the initial assessment and repeated after 7 days to evaluate test-retest reliability.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Test-Retest Reliability of the Turkish Duke Activity Status Index
Time Frame: Baseline and 7 days
Test-retest reliability of the Turkish version of the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) will be evaluated by administering the questionnaire twice, with a 7-day interval. The DASI consists of 12 items assessing functional capacity during activities of daily living, with a total score ranging from 0 to 58.2; higher scores indicate better functional capacity. Test-retest reliability will be assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
Baseline and 7 days
Construct Validity of the Turkish Duke Activity Status Index
Time Frame: Baseline-7 days
Construct validity of the Turkish DASI will be evaluated by examining the relationships between DASI scores and the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Correlation analyses will be used to determine the strength and direction of the relationships between these measures.
Baseline-7 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Functional Exercise Capacity - Six-Minute Walk Test
Time Frame: Baseline-7 days
Functional exercise capacity will be assessed using the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Participants will be instructed to walk as far as possible along a 30-meter corridor for 6 minutes. The total distance walked will be recorded in meters, with a greater distance indicating better functional exercise capacity.
Baseline-7 days
Lower Extremity Functional Status - LEFS
Time Frame: Baseline-7 days
Lower extremity functional status will be assessed using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). The LEFS consists of 20 items assessing difficulty in performing daily activities. Each item is scored from 0 to 4, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate better lower extremity function.
Baseline-7 days
Health-Related Quality of Life - SF-36
Time Frame: Baseline-7 days
Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The questionnaire evaluates eight domains of health-related quality of life. Domain scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life.
Baseline-7 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 25, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 20, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 1, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026/406 (Other Identifier: Bezmialem Vakif University Scientific Research Ethics Committee)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because data sharing is not included in the current study protocol or informed consent process.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.