Table 2.
Background characteristics, and secondary outcome measures, mean ± SD (range), median (IQ-range), or number (%)
| All | Men | Women | P-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Age (years) |
51.5 ± 13.5 (19–79) |
52.5 ± 14.5 (19–79) |
51.0 ± 13.0 (22–79) |
0.397 |
|
|
Type of MS |
relapsing remitting |
135 (47.0%) |
26 (31.0%) |
109 (53.7%) |
0.450 |
| |
secondary progressive |
104 (36.2%) |
37 (44.0%) |
67 (33.0%) |
|
| |
primary progressive |
32 (11.1%) |
16 (19.0%) |
16 (7.9%) |
|
| |
progressive relapsing |
10 (3.5%) |
4 (4.8%) |
6 (3.0%) |
|
| |
subtype not known |
6 (2.1%) |
1 (1.2%) |
5 (2.5%) |
|
|
Time since diagnosis (years) |
11 (11–18) |
12 (7–22) |
10 (5–18) |
0.027* |
|
|
Living with partner |
alone |
80 (27.9%) |
27 (32.1%) |
53 (26.1%) |
0.266 |
| |
with partner |
203 (70.7%) |
55 (65.5%) |
148 (72.9%) |
|
|
Living with children |
without children |
216 (75.3%) |
66 (78.6%) |
150 (73.9%) |
0.403 |
| |
with children |
71 (24.7%) |
18 (21.4%) |
53 (26.1%) |
|
|
Education |
compulsory school |
39 (13.6%) |
14 (16.7%) |
25 (12.3%) |
0.473 |
| |
upper secondary school |
118 (41.1%) |
34 (40.5%) |
84 (41.1%) |
|
| |
post-secondary school |
124 (43.2%) |
32 (38.1%) |
92 (45.3%) |
|
|
Work status |
working |
118 (41.1%) |
29 (34.5%) |
89 (43.8%) |
0.398 |
| |
student |
4 (1.4%) |
1 (1.2%) |
3 (1.5%) |
|
| |
out of work |
8 (2.8%) |
2 (2.4%) |
6 (3.0%) |
|
| |
parental leave |
4 (1.4%) |
1 (1.2%) |
3 (1.5%) |
|
| |
sickness benefit |
52 (18.1%) |
16 (19.0%) |
36 (17.7%) |
|
| |
retired due to age |
61 (21.3%) |
24 (28.6%) |
37 (18.2%) |
|
| |
parttime work/sickness benefit |
12 (4.2%) |
1 (1.2%) |
11 (5.4%) |
|
| |
other |
23 (8.0%) |
8 (9.5%) |
15 (7.4%) |
|
|
Height (cm) |
|
170.4 ± 8.1 |
179.0 ± 5.6 |
166.8 ± 5.9 |
N.A. |
|
Weight (kg) |
|
71.8 ± 12.2 |
79.4 ± 11.0 |
68.7 ± 11.3 |
N.A. |
|
BMI (kg/m2) |
|
24.7 ± 3.8 |
24.7 ± 3.0 |
24.7 ± 4.1 |
0.926 |
|
Smoking |
yes |
41 (14.3%) |
12 (14.3%) |
29 (14.3%) |
0.952 |
| |
no |
243 (84.7%) |
70 (83.3%) |
173 (85.2%) |
|
|
Other diseases |
0 |
212 (73.9%) |
67 (79.8%) |
145 (71.4%) |
0.152 |
| |
1 |
58 (20.2%) |
13 (15.5%) |
45 (22.2%) |
|
| |
2 |
14 (4.9%) |
3 (3.6%) |
11 (5.4%) |
|
| |
3 |
3 (1.0%) |
1 (1.2%) |
2 (1.0%) |
|
|
ACTIVLIM |
|
3.2 (1.1–6.3) |
1.8 (-0.2–6.2) |
3.7 (1.5–6.3) |
0.002* |
|
Gait Y/N |
yes can walk |
256 (89.2%) |
67 (79.8%) |
189 (93.1%) |
0.001* |
| |
no can’t walk |
30 (10.5%) |
17 (20.2%) |
13 (6.4%) |
|
|
Gait outside† |
1–50 m |
15 (10.5%) |
5 (6.0%) |
10 (4.9%) |
0.001* |
| |
51–100 m |
19 (5.2%) |
8 (9.5%) |
11 (5.4%) |
|
| |
101–500 m |
30 (10.5%) |
9 (10.7%) |
21 (10.3%) |
|
| |
501–1000 m |
5 (8.7%) |
4 (4.8%) |
21 (10.3%) |
|
| |
1001–3000 m |
33 (11.5%) |
9 (10.7%) |
24 (11.8%) |
|
| |
>3000 m |
110 (38.3%) |
25 (29.8%) |
85 (41.9%) |
|
|
Fear of falling |
yes |
109 (38%) |
32 (38.1%) |
77 (37.9%) |
0.951 |
| no | 162 (56.4%) | 47 (56.0%) | 115 (56.7%) | ||
*p < 0.05, N.A. = not applicable. † = total sum not 100% because those who could not walk are not displayed.