Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social - Universidad de Guadalajara, Prisciliano Sánchez 530, Col. Centro, C.P. 44100, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Electronic address: [Email]
OBJECTIVE : To evaluate the performance of an instrument for predicting chronic chikungunya arthritis (CCA) in adult patients. METHODS : A diagnostic test study was conducted and data from 217 confirmed cases of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) illness were analyzed. Two chronic chikungunya arthralgia scales (3-item CCAS-3 and 4-item CCAS-4) were constructed. RESULTS : Modest performance of the CCAS-3 scale was documented at the two given cut-off points. A CCAS-4 score ≥3 showed high sensitivity and specificity for predicting the persistence of CCA at 12 months after acute disease. CONCLUSIONS : If replicated in other populations, these results could be useful in the medical management of patients with symptomatic CHIKV infection.