Correlation analysis between Unified Multiple System Atrophy Sating Scale and duration of multiple system atrophy

Abstract

Objective To study the correlation between clinical rating scale and the duration of multiple system atrophy.Methods One hundred and twenty-two MSA cases fulfilling Gilman diagnostic criteria were recruited.Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale(UMSARS)was applied to assess the degree of the patients' disability.For analyzing the correlation between the UMSARS scores and the duration of the disease,the Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated.Results Among 122 MSA cases,male:female ratio was 1.7:1;disease duration lasted(2.8±1.6)years:possible MSA accounted for 50 cases(41%),probable MSA 72 cases(59%);MSA-P 35 cases(29%);MSA-C 73 cases(60%).MSA-P+C 5 cases(4%),MSA-A 9 cases(7%).The scores of UMSARS,UMSARS-Ⅰ and UMSARS-Ⅱ were found positively correlating with the disease duration.The Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were 0.368,0.266 and 0.392 respectively,all P<0.01;the adjusted Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were 0.360,0.257 and 0.385 respectively.all P<0.01.Conclusions MSA has complex clinical manifestations.which should include MSA-P+C subtype.UMSARS is a reliable scale to mirror the progression of MSA.which is useful to study the clinical features and disease duration of MSA. Key words: Multiple system atrophy; Severity of illness index