Table 2.
Participants’ (n = 25) demographic and clinical characteristics
| Variable | Intervention group (n = 12) | Control group (n = 13) |
Total (n = 25) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years, mean (SD) | 71 (7) | 64 (10) | 68 (9) |
| Gender, n (%) | |||
| Female | 8 (67) | 9 (69) | 17 (68) |
| Male | 4 (33) | 4 (31) | 8 (32) |
| Non-binary | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Living situation, n (%) | |||
| Living alone | 6 (50) | 3 (23) | 9 (36) |
| Living with partner | 6 (50) | 10 (77) | 16 (64) |
| Lifestyle factors | |||
| Smoking, n (%) | |||
| Previously | 2 (17) | 8 (61.5) | 10 (40) |
| No | 10 (83) | 5 (38.5) | 15 (60) |
| Alcohol use, n (%) | |||
| ≥ 2 units/day | 0 (0) | 1 (8) | 1 (4) |
| < 2 units/day (yes/no) | 12 (100) | 12 (92) | 24 (96) |
| BMI, mean (SD) | 28.0 (5.1) | 29.6 (3.9) | 28.8 (4.4) |
| Previous spine surgery, n (%) | |||
| Yes | 3 (25) | 2 (15) | 5 (20) |
| No | 9 (75) | 11 (85) | 20 (80) |
| Occupation, n (%) | |||
| Employed | 2 (17) | 5 (38.5) | 7 (28) |
| Retired | 10 (83) | 8 (61.5) | 18 (72) |
| Analgesic use, n (%) | |||
| Yes | 9 (75) | 11 (85) | 20 (80) |
| No | 3 (25) | 2 (15) | 5 (20) |
| Leg pain, n (%) | |||
| Yes | 11 (92) | 13 (100) | 24 (96) |
| No | 1 (8) | 0 (0) | 1 (4) |
| Back pain, n (%) | |||
| Yes | 10 (83) | 10 (77) | 20 (80) |
| No | 2 (17) | 3 (23) | 5 (20) |
| Pain duration, years, median (IQR), n = 18 (9 per group) due to missing values | |||
| Leg | 1.0 (1.0–2.0) | 2.0 (1.0–2.8) | 1.25 (1.0–2.5) |
| Back | 2.5 (0.8–6.0) | 2.0 (1.3–6.0) | 2.25 (1.0–5.5) |
| Pain intensity, NRS, median (IQR) | |||
| Leg | 7 (6–8) | 8 (6–8) | 7 (6–8) |
| Back | 8 (6–8) | 7 (4–8) | 7 (5–8) |
| Education, n (%) | |||
| Compulsory level | 1 (8.3) | 1 (8) | 2 (8) |
| High school graduation | 1 (8.3) | 6 (46) | 7 (28) |
| Vocational education | 1 (8.3) | 2 (15) | 3 (12) |
| University | 9 (75) | 4 (31) | 13 (52) |
| Comorbidity CCI, median (IQR) | 0 (0–1) | 1 (0–3) | 1 (0–2) |
| HRQoL, EQ5D-VAS, mean (SD) | 55 (21) | 53 (21) | 54 (21) |
| HADS-D, median (IQR) | 2 (1–8) | 4 (1–10) | 3 (1–9) |
| ASA score, n (%) | |||
| I | 3 (25) | 1 (8) | 4 (16) |
| II | 6 (50) | 8 (61) | 14 (56) |
| III | 3 (25) | 4 (31) | 7 (28) |
Abbreviations: IQR Interquartile range, NRS Numerical Rating Scale (0–10), CCI Charlson Comorbidity Index, EQ5D-VAS EuroQol version 5-dimension visual analogue scale (0–100, with 100 = Best imaginable health state), HADS-D the depression subdomain of the Hospital Anxiety and depression scale (0–21, cut-off 8 for depressive mood), ASA American Society of Anesthesiologists