Inter-rater reliability of the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS). |
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Authors: | Elsdon Storey Kate Tuck Robert Hester Andrew Hughes Andrew Churchyard |
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Institution: | Department of Medicine (Neuroscience), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. elsdon.storey@med.monash.edu.au |
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Abstract: | We assessed the inter-rater reliability of the 100-point International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS). Three neurologists independently rated videotaped ICARS examinations of 22 subjects with genetically determined ataxias (spinocerebellar ataxia SCA] Type 1 in 11; SCA Type 2 in 1; Friedreich's ataxia in 10) and 4 controls. Scores on live ICARS assessment had ranged from 0 to 7 for controls and 11 to 74 for ataxic subjects (clinically very mildly affected to wheelchair-bound). Inter-rater correlation was very high for the total score (Kendall's omega 0.994, 95% confidence interval, 0.988-0.997), and high to very high for each component subscore (0.791 for speech to 0.994 for posture/gait). All correlations were significant at P < 0.00001. The ICARS exhibits very high inter-rater reliability even without prior observer standardisation and is sensitive to a range of ataxia severities from very mild to severe. |
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Keywords: | International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale spinocerebellar ataxias Friedreich's ataxia reliability |
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