The Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale: Intrarater reliability

Background: The Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS) was developed to provide a surrogate measure of disease progression in multiple system atrophy. In the present study, the intrarater agreement of the motor examination part of the UMSARS was determined. Methods: All patients were first examined face to face, while being video-recorded, by two senior and two junior investigators. The patients' videotaped examinations were reevaluated after 3 months. Intrarater reliability for each item was analyzed by kappa statistics. Results: Overall weighted kappa (?) values were at least substantial or excellent for all UMSARS motor examination items, except for ocular motor dysfunction, which showed only moderate intrarater agreement. Intrarater reliability was comparable between senior and junior raters, with all ? differences being = 0.22. Conclusions: The motor examination part of the UMSARS was found to have satisfactory intrarater reliability in the present cohort. (C) 2012 Movement Disorder Society