Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder
that presents and progresses in various ways, making prognostication difficult. Several
paradigms exist for providers to elucidate prognosis in a way that addresses not only
the amount of time a patient has to live, but also a patient's quality of their life
moving forward. Prognostication, with regard to both survivability and quality of
life, is impacted by several features that include, but are not limited to, patient
demographics, clinical features on presentation, and over time, access to therapy,
and access to multidisciplinary clinics. An understanding of the impact that these
features have on the life of a patient with ALS can help providers to develop a better
and more personalized approach for patients related to their clinical prognosis after
a diagnosis is made. The ultimate goal of prognostication is to empower patients with
ALS to take control and make decisions with their care teams to ensure that their
goals are addressed and met.
Keywords
ALS - prognosis - quality of life - palliative care - multidisciplinary clinic
