A survey on value of the shortened NIHSS-8 on evaluation of patient outcome with stroke in emergency

Abstract

NIHSS is a tool for doctors to measure stroke disability. This term stands for the National Institutes of Health Scale (USA) or the National Institutes of Health Scale Score. And aims to create a standard and repeatable assessment system for patients who have had strokes. The evaluation of the NIHSS value is shortened to 8 parts in assessing the severity of stroke in an emergency

Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional and prospective study in which patients with stroke complaints referred to emergency department of Imam Reza Hospital (AS) are included. In this study, for a stroke patient referring to an emergency medical resident (only one resident who is fully acquainted with it), for NIHSS-8 patient, and then during a preliminary examination in a neurologic visit for the patient, only one resident NIHSS-11 is calculated. Then the outcome of the patient is assessed at the time of discharge based on mRS. Finally, the relationship between NIHSS-8 and NIHSS-11 is calculated based on the mRS and severity levels are defined as mild, moderate, severe for NIHSS-8.

Results: The relationship between NIHSS-11 in an emergency with NIHSS-8 in an emergency is 0.970. They have a very close relationship with each other, and NIHSS-11 also has direct and close links during clearance (0.886). Also NIHSS-11 in Emergency and NIHSS-8 in Emergency and NIHSS-11 are also in close proximity when discharged with mRS at the time of discharge. But NIHSS-11 in the emergency room and NIHSS-8 in the emergency department is not associated with the outcome of the patient.