Remote digital assessment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale - a multicenter observational study.

OBJECTIVE: Remote self-assessment of the revised amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R) using digital data capture was investigated for its feasibility as an add-on to ALSFRS-R assessments during multidisciplinary clinic visits. METHODS: From August 2017 to December 2021, at 12 ALS centers in Germany, an observational study on remote assessment of the ALSFRS-R was performed. In addition to the assessment of ALSFRS-R during clinic visits, patients were offered a digital self-assessment of the ALSFRS-R - either on a computer or on a mobile application ("ALS-App"). RESULTS: An estimated multicenter cohort of 4,670 ALS patients received care at participating ALS centers. Of these patients, 971 remotely submitted the ALSFRS-R, representing 21% of the multicenter cohort. Of those who opted for remote assessment, 53.7% (n = 521) completed a minimum of 4 ALSFRS-R per year with a mean number of 10.9 assessments per year. Different assessment frequencies were found for patients using a computer (7.9 per year, n = 857) and mobile app (14.6 per year, n = 234). Patients doing remote assessments were more likely to be male and less functionally impaired but many patients with severe disability managed to complete it themselves or with a caregiver (35% of remote ALSFRS-R cohort in King's Stage 4). CONCLUSIONS: In a dedicated ALS center setting remote digital self-assessment of ALSFRS-R can provide substantial data which is complementary and potentially an alternative to clinic assessments and could be used for research purposes and person-level patient management. Addressing barriers relating to patient uptake and adherence are key to its success.

Use and subjective experience of the impact of motor-assisted movement exercisers in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a multicenter observational study.

Motor-assisted movement exercisers (MME) are devices that assist with physical therapy in domestic settings for people living with ALS. This observational cross-sectional study assesses the subjective experience of the therapy and analyzes users' likelihood of recommending treatment with MME. The study was implemented in ten ALS centers between February 2019 and October 2020, and was coordinated by the research platform Ambulanzpartner. Participants assessed symptom severity, documented frequency of MME use and rated the subjective benefits of therapy on a numerical scale (NRS, 0 to 10 points, with 10 being the highest). The Net Promotor Score (NPS) determined the likelihood of a participant recommending MME. Data for 144 participants were analyzed. Weekly MME use ranged from 1 to 4 times for 41% of participants, 5 to 7 times for 42%, and over 7 times for 17%. Particularly positive results were recorded in the following domains: amplification of a sense of achievement (67%), diminution of the feeling of having rigid limbs (63%), diminution of the feeling of being immobile (61%), improvement of general wellbeing (55%) and reduction of muscle stiffness (52%). Participants with more pronounced self-reported muscle weakness were more likely to note a beneficial effect on the preservation and improvement of muscle strength during MME treatment (p < 0.05). Overall, the NPS for MME was high (+ 61). High-frequency MME-assisted treatment (defined as a minimum of five sessions a week) was administered in the majority of participants (59%) in addition to physical therapy. Most patients reported having achieved their individual therapeutic objectives, as evidenced by a high level of satisfaction with MME therapy. The results bolster the justification for extended MME treatment as part of a holistic approach to ALS care.