Validation of the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale in patients clinically suspected to have acute stroke in the emergency department

Abstract

Introduction: The Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale is a recently introduced coma scale. The objectives of this study were to assess the interrater reliability of the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale when physicians and nurses in the emergency department apply the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score on patients clinically suspected to have acute stroke and to look for any association between Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale and in-hospital mortality. Methods: Prospective study of 105 patients clinically suspected to have acute stroke recruited in an emergency department in a 4-month period. The Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale and Glasgow Coma Scale of each patient were assessed by one doctor and one nurse independently. The interrater reliability between physicians and nurses using the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score and Glasgow Coma Scale score was assessed. The association between the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale and in-hospital mortality was analysed using logistic regression, controlled for age, sex and diagnosis. Results: Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score had a good interrater reliability when applied to patients suspected to have acute stroke (kappa = 0.742, 95% confidence interval = 0.626–0.858). This was comparable to Glasgow Coma Scale score with a kappa = 0.796 (95% confidence interval = 0.694–0.898). For every 1-point increase in Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale, a reduction in in-hospital mortality was observed with an odds ratio of 0.76 (95% confidence interval = 0.63–0.91, p = 0.003), controlled for age, sex and diagnosis. Conclusion: The Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score may be a tool that can be used by emergency department doctors and nurses in assessing clinical stroke patients.