Article

For reliable assessment of ataxia severity in children, the Childhood Ataxia
and Cerebellar Group of the European Pediatric Neurology Society aimed to
validate the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) according to age.
METHOD: Twenty-two pediatric ataxia experts from 15 international institutions
scored videotaped SARA performances in 156 typically developing children (4-16y:
m/f=1; 12 children per year of age; including nine different nationalities). We
determined age-dependency and reliability of pediatric SARA scores by a mixed
model. RESULTS: In typically developing children, age was the only variable that
revealed a relationship with SARA scores (p<0.001). The youngest children
revealed the highest scores and the highest variation in scores (<8y; p<0.001).
After 11 years of age, pediatric scores approached adult outcomes. The
interobserver agreement of total SARA scores was substantial with an intraclass
correlation coefficient of 0.63 (95% confidence interval 0.56-0.69; p<0.001).
INTERPRETATION: In typically developing European children, both SARA scores and
interobserver agreement are age-dependent. For reliable interpretation of
pediatric SARA scores, consideration of the underlying test construct appears
prudent. These data will hopefully contribute to a correct and uniform
interpretation of longitudinal SARA scores from childhood to adulthood.
CI - (c) 2017 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS