modified Rankin Scale
A standardized scale measuring the degree of disability or dependence in daily activities for patients who have suffered a stroke or other neurological condition.
Full Definition
The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is a widely used outcome measure in stroke research and clinical practice that assesses functional independence on a scale from 0 to 6. Scores range from 0 (no symptoms) to 6 (death), with intermediate scores representing varying degrees of disability. Score 0 indicates no symptoms; 1 indicates no significant disability despite symptoms; 2-5 represent increasing levels of disability from slight to severe; and 6 indicates death. The mRS is particularly valuable because it captures global functional status rather than specific neurological deficits. It serves as a primary or secondary endpoint in numerous stroke clinical trials and is used for prognostication and rehabilitation planning.
Usage
Usage note: Often abbreviated as mRS. Note the lowercase 'm' in the abbreviation. Distinct from the original Rankin Scale.
In Context
- "The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving mRS 0-2 at 90 days." — Clinical trial manuscript
- "Pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale score was 0 in all enrolled patients." — Research protocol