title: Epidemiological evaluation of funduscopic findings in cerebrovascular diseases. III. Observer variability and reproducibility for funduscopic findings.
abstract: In order to evaluate observer variability and reproducibility for the funduscopic findings, the color slides of one hundred cases in Akabane and Asahi town in Japan were investigated and the following were revealed: 1. Observer variability for Keith-Wagener's classification was the least in the grade 3 and the most in grade 0. The variability of diagnosis between observers was the least for retinal bleeding and the most for anteriolar reflex and remarkable for lateral displacement and arteriolar narrowing. In general, the observe variability was one grade at most. 2. Reproducibility for Scheie's hypertensive classification was 73 per cent and that for Scheie's arteriosclerotic and Keith-Wagner's classifications was 66 per cent. Fairly good reproducibility was observed in retinal bleeding and poor reproducibility in arteriolar reflex and vertical and lateral displacements, In general, the intra-observer variability for the funduscopic findings was one grade at most. 3. Observer variability and reproducibility for the funduscopic findings would be improved by establishment of the detailed diagnostic criteria of various funduscopic findings, taking color pictures in focus and systematic training for the fresh doctors or technicians without enough experience. 4. The cases with definite narrowing of arteriole revealed smaller A/V ratio than 0.70.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000473:pathology; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis