Hoehn and Yahr scale

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The Hoehn and Yahr scale is a commonly used system for describing how the symptoms of Parkinson's disease progress. It was originally published in 1967 in the journal Neurology by Margaret Hoehn and Melvin Yahr and included stages 1 through 5. [1] Since then, a modified Hoehn and Yahr scale was proposed with the addition of stages 1.5 and 2.5 to help describe the intermediate course of the disease. [2] It has been shown that HY stage discrimination can be automated, even with patients who cannot support themselves. [3]

StageHoehn and Yahr ScaleModified Hoehn and Yahr Scale
1Unilateral involvement only usually with minimal or no functional disabilityUnilateral involvement only
1.5-Unilateral and axial involvement
2Bilateral or midline involvement without impairment of balanceBilateral involvement without impairment of balance
2.5-Mild bilateral disease with recovery on pull test
3Bilateral disease: mild to moderate disability with impaired postural reflexes; physically independentMild to moderate bilateral disease; some postural instability; physically independent
4Severely disabling disease; still able to walk or stand unassistedSevere disability; still able to walk or stand unassisted
5Confinement to bed or wheelchair unless aidedWheelchair bound or bedridden unless aided

This rating system has been largely supplanted by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, which assesses limitation of daily activities and non-motor symptoms in more detail. [2]

Time between stages

A 2010 study of 695 patients (mean age: 65.2, male: 57.3%) found the median time taken to transit H&Y stages as shown below: [4]

StageMedian Time to Transit (Months)
1-
220
2.562
325
424
526

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References

  1. Hoehn M, Yahr M (1967). "Parkinsonism: onset, progression and mortality". Neurology. 17 (5): 427–42. doi: 10.1212/wnl.17.5.427 . PMID   6067254.
  2. 1 2 Goetz CG, Poewe W, Rascol O, Sampaio C, Stebbins GT, Counsell C, Giladi N, Holloway RG, Moore CG, Wenning GK, Yahr MD, Seidl L (2004). "Movement Disorder Society Task Force Report on the Hoehn and Yahr Staging Scale: Status and Recommendations. The Movement Disorder Society Task Force on Rating Scales for Parkinson's Disease". Movement Disorders. 19 (9): 1020–1028. doi:10.1002/mds.20213. PMID   15372591. S2CID   42266048.
  3. Aharonson V, Seedat N, Israeli-Korn S, Hassin-Baer S, Postema M, Yahalom G (2020). "Automated stage discrimination of Parkinson's disease". BIO Integration. 1 (2): 55–63. doi: 10.15212/bioi-2020-0006 .
  4. Zhao YJ, Wee HL, Chan YH, Seah SH, Au WL, Lau PN, Pica EC, Li SC, Luo N, Tan LC (2010). "Progression of Parkinson's disease as evaluated by Hoehn and Yahr stage transition times". Mov Disord. 25 (6): 710–716. doi:10.1002/mds.22875. PMID   20213822. S2CID   23544830.