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April 26, 2010

The Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite
A clinically meaningful measure of disability

Chris H. Polman, MD, and Richard A. Rudick, MDAuthors Info & Affiliations
April 27, 2010 issue
74 (17_supplement_3) S8-S15
https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181dbb571
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Abstract

Background: The Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) provides a focused and sensitive evaluation of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) that may be more responsive to change than that provided by the Expanded Disability Status Scale.
Expert Clinical Opinion: The MSFC is a 3-part quantitative instrument that measures arm, leg, and cognitive function with the 9-Hole Peg Test (arm/hand dexterity), the Timed 25-Foot Walk (leg function), and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (3-second version, PASAT3; cognition). The MSFC has excellent test-retest reliability. Construct validity was supported by expected differences in scores between patients with primary or secondary progressive MS compared with relapsing-remitting MS. Concurrent validity was demonstrated by significant correlations with the Expanded Disability Status Scale, the Sickness Impact Profile, and the Short Form-36, particularly on the physical components of the latter 2 scales. MSFC scores also correlate with MRI changes. Limitations of the MSFC include practice effects with the PASAT and to a lesser extent the 9-Hole Peg Test, variations in the reference populations used to calculate Z-scores, and the lack of an accepted definition of a clinically meaningful change.
Future Directions: Future research should be directed at adding a test that measures visual function (e.g., contrast acuity), at replacing the PASAT by a cognition test that has better measurement characteristics, and at developing methods to better understand the clinical relevance of changes in MSFC scores.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Neurology®
Volume 74 • Number 17_supplement_3 • April 27, 2010
Pages: S8-S15

Copyright

© 2010.

Publication History

Published online: April 26, 2010
Published in print: April 27, 2010

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Authors

Affiliations & Disclosures

Chris H. Polman, MD
From the Department of Neurology (C.P.), VU Medical Centre, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research (R.A.R.), Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
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Richard A. Rudick, MD
From the Department of Neurology (C.P.), VU Medical Centre, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research (R.A.R.), Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
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Notes

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Chris H. Polman, Department of Neurology, VU Medical Centre, Free University Hospital, PO Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1007 MB, The Netherlands [email protected]

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