Progression rate of ALSFRS-R at time of diagnosis predicts survival time in ALS

The authors calculated the progression rate (ΔFS) using the total revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) and symptom duration at diagnosis in 82 Japanese patients with ALS. Survival (death or tracheostomy) differed significantly with the ΔFS and postdiagnostic period according to log-rank testing, but Cox proportional hazards modeling revealed no strong association between total ALSFRS-R and mortality, suggesting that the ΔFS provides an additional predictive index beyond ALSFRS-R alone.