title: The impact of Chiari malformation on daily activities: A report from the national Conquer Chiari Patient Registry database.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chiari malformation (CM) is characterized by herniation of the cerebellar tonsils into the cervical spine. While ample literature on CM exists for clinical and procedural aspects of the disease, few studies have measured the impact CM has on daily activities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to measure the impact that CM has on daily living activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was analyzed from 798 CM patients gathered by the national Conquer Chiari Patient Registry database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicate CM is associated with negative impact on daily living and physical activities for patients, even those exhibiting mild symptoms. Participants with severe symptoms experience the greatest deficit with regards to daily living such as difficulty walking, driving, housecleaning and food preparation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As 96.1% of CM patients report impact in one or more areas of daily living, CM is classified as a disability according to 42 U.S. CODE § 12101 (Americans with Disabilities Act). The degree of self-reported CM symptom severity is strongly related to the frequency and extent of limitations in both physical and daily activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4209 St. Rt. 44, P.O. Box 95 Rootstown, Ohio 44272, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meeker
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4209 St. Rt. 44, P.O. Box 95 Rootstown, Ohio 44272, USA. Electronic address: jamerine@neomed.edu.
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amerine
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4209 St. Rt. 44, P.O. Box 95 Rootstown, Ohio 44272, USA.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kropp
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4209 St. Rt. 44, P.O. Box 95 Rootstown, Ohio 44272, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chyatte
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4209 St. Rt. 44, P.O. Box 95 Rootstown, Ohio 44272, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fischbein
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D006796:Household Work; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States; D016138:Walking
keywords: Arnold-Chiari malformation; Daily living; Physical activities; Quality of life; Recreational activities