RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Reliable virtual clinical assessment in spino-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA)
JF Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
JO J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP jnnp-2022-329616
DO 10.1136/jnnp-2022-329616
A1 Silvia Fenu
A1 Irene Tramacere
A1 Francesca De Giorgi
A1 Davide Pareyson
YR 2022
UL http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2022/10/14/jnnp-2022-329616.abstract
AB Background Spino-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the androgen receptor gene, affects adult men and results in muscle atrophy and weakness in the bulbar and limb muscles and signs of partial androgen insensitivity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, outpatients’ visits have been reduced to preserve safety of frail patients, and telehealth was largely employed.Methods From April to November 2020, we monitored 12 patients with SBMA with telehealth and administered remotely two clinical scales currently used for SBMA: Adult Myopathy Assessment Tool (AMAT) and SBMA-Functional Rating Scale (SBMA-FRS). We compared results with previous and subsequent in-person visits’ scores, and assessed the longitudinal changes in AMAT and SBMA-FRS scores during 7 years through the repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results Repeated measures ANOVA of AMAT scores collected during 7 years and including tele-AMAT evaluation showed a steady mean decline of 1–2 points per year. A similar trend of SBMA-FRS scores, with a mean decline per year of about 1 point, was observed. There was no relevant deviation from the model prediction.Conclusions Our data show that telehealth is a valid tool to monitor patients with SBMA: AMAT and SBMA-FRS scales can be effectively, reliably and easily administered remotely.