NIH Stroke Scale

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Objective[edit | edit source]

The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a systematic, quantitative assessment tool to measure stroke-related neurological deficit[1]. In clinical practice it can be used to evaluate and document neurological status in acute stroke patients, determine appropriate treatment and assist in standardizing communication between healthcare practitioners[2]. The NIHSS has been shown to be a predictor of both short and long term outcomes of stroke patients[3][4].

The NIHSS is designed to be a simple tool that can be administered in less than 10 minutes by physicians, nurses or therapists[1].

Intended Population[edit | edit source]

Acute stroke patients[2].

Method of Use[edit | edit source]

The NIHSS is a 15-item neurological examination stroke scale used to evaluate the effect of acute cerebral infarction on the levels of consciousness, language, neglect, visual-field loss, extraocular movement, motor strength, ataxia, dysarthria, and sensory loss[1]. A trained observer rates the patent’s ability to answer questions and perform activities. Ratings for each item are scored on a 3- to 5-point scale, with 0 as normal, and there is an allowance for untestable items. Scores range from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater severity.

The evaluation of stroke severity depends upon the ability of the observer to accurately and consistently assess the patient. Stroke severity may be stratified on the basis of NIHSS scores as follows:[5]

  • Very Severe: >25
  • Severe: 15 – 24
  • Mild to Moderately Severe: 5 – 14
  • Mild: 1 – 5

Evidence[edit | edit source]

Reliability[edit | edit source]

Inter-rater reliability for individual elements of the NIHSS has been shown to be generally good[6].  However overall scoring can be inconsistent, proper training is required to use the NIH Stroke Scale accurately[7][8][9].

  • A study of 4 patients assessed by 30 physicians and 29 study coordinators, with a space of 3 months between assessments, found that the NIHSS has excellent interrater (ICC = 0.95) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.93)
  • A study of 20 patients rated by 4 clinicians, with each patient subsequently evaluated by 2 independent observers found Adequate to Excellent interrater agreement for 9 of the 13 items on the NIHSS (Kappa = 0.32 to 0.79); lowest levels of agreement were found for the Facial palsy (Kappa = 0.22) and limb ataxia (Kappa = -0.16) items.
  • 4 items have poorly reliability or are redundant (level of consciousness, facial weakness, ataxia, and dysarthria[10]

Validity[11][12][edit | edit source]

Outcomes related to NIHSS scores at admission:

  • Scores of <5; 80% of stroke survivors will be discharged to home
  • Score between 6 and 13 typically require acute inpatient rehabilitation
  • Scores of >14 frequently require long-term skilled care

Responsiveness[5][edit | edit source]

NIHSS scores were compared to infarction size (measured by computed tomography) on 65 patients at 1 week post stroke. 10 items demonstrated an average of 25% change over 7 days. However, changes in limb ataxia and best gaze may have been overstated.

Links[edit | edit source]

NIH Stroke Assessment Tool PDF

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 NIH Stroke Scale. Approach to Human Subject Protection and Patient Safety. Available from: https://www.nihstrokescale.org/ (Accessed 12/07/2022)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Spilker J, Kongable G, Barch C, Braimah J, Brattina P, Daley S, Donnarumma R, Rapp K, Sailor S. Using the NIH Stroke Scale to assess stroke patients. The NINDS rt-PA Stroke Study Group. J Neurosci Nurs. 1997 Dec;29(6):384-92.
  3. ↑ H.P. Adams Jr., P.H. Davis, E.C. Leira, K.-C. Chang, B.H. Bendixen, W.R. Clarke, R.F. Woolson, Hansen, MS. Baseline NIH Stroke Scale score strongly predicts outcome after stroke: A report of the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST). Neurology July 1, 1999 vol. 53 no. 1 126
  4. ↑ Runde D. Calculated Decisions: NIH stroke scale/score (NIHSS). Emerg Med Pract. 2020 Jul 15;22(7):CD6-CD7.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Brott, T., Adams, H. P., Jr., et al. (1989). "Measurements of acute cerebral infarction: a clinical examination scale." Stroke 20(7): 864-870.
  6. ↑ Josephson SA1, Hills NK, Johnston SC.. NIH Stroke Scale reliability in ratings from a large sample of clinicians. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2006;22(5-6):389-95.
  7. ↑ André C. The NIH Stroke Scale is unreliable in untrained hands. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2002 Jan-Feb;11(1):43-6.
  8. ↑ Lyden P1, Raman R, Liu L, Emr M, Warren M, Marler J. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale certification is reliable across multiple venues. Stroke. 2009 Jul;40(7):2507-11.
  9. ↑ Lyden P, Raman R, Liu L, Grotta J, Broderick J, Olson S, Shaw S, Spilker J, Meyer B, Emr M, Warren M, Marler J. NIHSS training and certification using a new digital video disk is reliable. Stroke. 2005 Nov;36(11):2446-9.
  10. ↑ Kasner, S. E. (2006). "Clinical interpretation and use of stroke scales." Lancet Neurol 5(7): 603-612.
  11. ↑ Schlegel, D., Kolb, S. J., et al. (2003). "Utility of the NIH Stroke Scale as a predictor of hospital disposition." Stroke 34: 134-137.
  12. ↑ Rundek, T., Mast, H., et al. (2000). "Predictors of resource use after acute hospitalization: the Northern Manhattan Stroke Study." Neurology 55: 1180-1187.


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