Summary of Dr. Bell's Disability Scale
This is a summary of a CFIDS disability scale from
The Doctor's
Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by David S. Bell,
MD, published
by Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-201-40797-2.
100: Patient has no symptoms at rest, no symptoms with
exercise; has
normal overall activity; is able to work full-time
without difficulty.
90: Patient has no symptoms at rest, has mild symptoms
with activity;
has a normal overall activity level. The patient is
able to work
full-time without difficulty.
80: Patient has mild symptoms at rest, symptoms worsened
by exertion.
Patient has minimal activity restriction noted for
exertion activities
only; patient is able to work full-time with difficulty
in jobs
which require exertion.
70: Patient has mild symptoms at rest. Patient clearly
notes some
daily activity limitation. Overall, the patient functions
close
to 90% of expected, except for activities requiring
exertion.
Ability to work full-time with difficulty.
60: Patient has mild to moderate symptoms at rest,
with daily activity
limitation clearly noted. Overall functions 70-90%.
Patient is
unable to work full-time in jobs which require physical
labor,
but has the ability to work full-time in light activity
if hours
are flexible.
50: Patient has moderate symptoms at rest, and moderate
to severe
symptoms with exercise or activity. An overall activity
level
is 70% of expected. Patient is unable to perform strenuous
duties,
but can perform light duty, or desk-work 4-5 hours
per day, requires
rest periods.
40: Patient has moderate symptoms at rest, and moderate
to severe
symptoms with exercise activity. The patient has an
overall activity
level of 50-70% of expected. Patient is not confined
to house;
is unable to perform strenuous duties, but can perform
light duty/desk
work 3-4 hours/day, but requires rest periods.
30: Patient has moderate to severe symptoms at rest,
and severe symptoms
with any exercise. Patient has an overall activity
level reduced
to 50% of expected; is usually confined to house.
Patient is unable
to perform any strenuous tasks; is able to perform
2-3 hours of
desk work per day, but requires rest periods.
20: Patient has moderate to severe symptoms at rest;
is unable to
perform strenuous activity. Overall, activity levels
are 30-50%
of expected. Patient is unable to leave house except
rarely, is
confined to bed most of the day, is unable to concentrate
for
more than 1 hour/day.
10: Patient has severe symptoms at rest, is bedridden
the majority
of the time. Patient has no travel outside of
house. Patient
has marked cognitive symptoms preventing concentration.
0: Patient has severe symptoms on a continuous basis,
is bedridden
constantly, and is unable to care for him/her self.