Clustering of functioning and disability profile based on the WHO disability assessment schedule 2.0 – a nationwide databank study

Abstract

Objective

To compare and cluster the health status and disability restrictions associated with eight major physiological functions of body systems, using functioning domains of WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0.

Design

Retrospective analyses of a nation-wide disability database.

Setting

Population-based study.

Participants

Records from patients >18 years of age with disability were obtained from the Taiwan Data Bank of Persons with Disability (July 2012–November 2017). Disability functioning profile of the following diagnosis were analyzed: stroke, schizophrenia, hearing loss, liver cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, burn, head and neck cancer.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Demographic data, severity of impairment, and Disability Assessment Scale scores were obtained and analyzed. Radar charts were constructed using the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. functioning domain score. Degree of similarity between any two given diagnosis was assessed by cluster analysis, comparing the Euclidean distances between radar chart data points among the six domains.

Results

Based on cluster analysis of similarities between functioning domain profiles, the eight diagnoses were grouped into different disability clusters. Four clusters of disability were named according to the type restriction patterns: global-impact cluster (stroke); interaction-restriction cluster (schizophrenia, hearing loss); physical-limitation cluster, (liver cirrhosis, CKD, and congestive heart failure); and specific-impact cluster (burn, head and neck cancer). The rates of institutionalization and unemployment differed between the four clusters.

Conclusion

We converted WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. functioning domain scores into six-dimensioned radar chart, and demonstrate disability restrictions can be further categorized into clusters according to similarity of functioning impairment. Understanding of disease-related disabilities provides an important basis for designing rehabilitation programs and policies on social welfare and health that reflect the daily-living needs of people according to diagnosis.

Implication for Rehabilitation

• The use of radar charts provided a direct visualization of the scope and severity of disabilities associated with specific diagnoses.

• Diagnosis-related disabilities can be organized into clusters based on similarities in WHODAS 2.0 disability domain profiles.

• Knowledge of the characteristics of disability clusters is important to understand disease-related disabilities and provide a basis for designing rehabilitation.

Keywords:

• Employment
• disability evaluation
• international classification of functioning
• disability and health
• activities of daily living
• cluster analysis

Acknowledgment

The authors thank Hui-Han Lin for assistance with statistical analysis.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest.