Translation, validation, and diagnostic accuracy of the Arabic version of the Michigan neuropathy screening instrument

The Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) is used to screen patients for diabetic neuropathy (DNP). We aimed to translate the MNSI questionnaire into Arabic (MNSIq-Ar) and to assess the validity and diagnostic performance of the MNSI Arabic version (MNSI-Ar). Cronbach alpha alpha and the interclass correlation coefficient were used to measure the reliability and reproducibility of the MNSIq-Ar. The instrument's validity was assessed by Spearman correlation with the Utah Early Neuropathy Scale (UENS), the Modified Toronto Neuropathy Score (mTCNS), diabetic neuropathy symptoms (DNS), and sural nerve amplitude (SNA). The construct validity of the MNSI-Ar was assessed by its ability to differentiate the severity of DNP (using the Kruskal-Wallis test). The diagnostic performance was assessed through the receiver operator curve area. We recruited 89 participants (mean [SD] age, 50.8 [12.3] years; 48% men). The MNSIq-Ar showed an alpha of 0.81 and intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.94, and the correlation coefficients with UENS, mTCNS, DNS, and sural nerve amplitude were 0.67, 0.83, 0.73, and -0.49, respectively (all P < .0001). The MNSI-Ar was able to differentiate the different severities of DNP. The receiver operator curve area was 0.93 with a high sensitivity of 95.9% and 100% for probable and confirmed DNP, respectively. MNSI-Ar is a reliable and valid tool to screen for diabetic neuropathy in the Arabic language with a good diagnostic performance and high sensitivity.