Inter-rater reliability of the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS).
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.
Department of Medicine (Neuroscience), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. elsdon.storey@med.monash.edu.au
Elsdon
E
Storey
Kate
K
Tuck
Robert
R
Hester
Andrew
A
Hughes
Andrew
A
Churchyard
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005621:Friedreich Ataxia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015588:Observer Variation; D020754:Spinocerebellar Ataxias / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014910:Wheelchairs