title: Simplified modified Rankin Scale questionnaire correlates with stroke severity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To further validate the simplified modified Rankin Scale questionnaire (smRSq), we compare it here to a well-established predictor of functional outcome after stroke, the initial stroke severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective correlation analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients identified from a registry of stroke patients treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community and 17 hospital Emergency Departments within a web-based telestroke network throughout the state of Georgia, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five certified raters assessed the initial stroke severities with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) via the telestroke system. Over a 20 month period, one certified rater, unaware of the NIHSS scores, attempted to contact each patient in the registry to assess their functional outcomes with the smRSq via telephone. We analyzed patients who had the smRSq assessment at least three months after stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty of 120 registered patients were contacted and qualified for this study. The baseline clinical characteristics of the 40 analyzed and the 80 disqualified patients were similar. The correlation between the initial NIHSS and the smRSq was good (r = 0.69, R(2) = 0.47, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The good correlation of the smRSq with the initial stroke severity further confirms the smRSq validity in assessing functional outcome after stroke.
authors: Department of Neurology, Georgia Health Sciences University, GA, USA. abruno@georgiahealth.edu
authors: Askiel
authors: A
authors: Bruno
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Close
authors: Jeffrey A
authors: JA
authors: Switzer
authors: David C
authors: DC
authors: Hess
authors: Hartmut
authors: H
authors: Gross
authors: Fenwick T
authors: FT
authors: Nichols
authors: Abiodun E
authors: AE
authors: Akinwuntan
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D005544:Forecasting / Q000379:methods; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator
keywords: Stroke; cerebral infarction; stroke outcome