The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale predicts survival time in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients on invasive mechanical ventilation.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale (ALSFRS), which is a validated instrument that assesses the functional status and the disease progression in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), predicts hospital length of stay and survival time in ALS patients treated with tracheostomy-intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (TIPPV). Methods: Thirty-three consecutive ALS patients with acute respiratory failure who received therapy with TIPPV were prospectively followed up from their admission to the hospital until death. The association of ALSFRS score at hospital admission with length of hospital stay and survival after TIPPV were examined using Cox proportional hazard models, adjusting for age at baseline, sex, and symptom duration.