Table 2. Patient variables means and SDs according to treatment group: NIV (n = 17), decliners (n = 10).
| Variable | Group | Mean | SD | t | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient age at assessment | NIV | 60.41 | 10.30 | 1.37 | .18 |
| Decliners | 66.20 | 11.17 | |||
| Duration of illness (months) | NIV | 28.71 | 50.94 | −0.37 | .73 |
| Decliners | 22.00 | 22.00 | |||
| ALS-FRS-R | NIV | 28.88 | 8.70 | −0.28 | .17 |
| Decliners | 27.90 | 9.23 | |||
| ALSAQ-40 total | NIV | 74.59 | 41.30 | 0.61 | .54 |
| Decliners | 84.40 | 37.79 | |||
| • Eating and drinking | NIV | 32.84 | 28.40 | 0.39 | .70 |
| Decliners | 37.50 | 32.21 | |||
| • Communication | NIV | 50.63 | 38.01 | 0.19 | .85 |
| Decliners | 53.57 | 41.00 | |||
| • ADL and independence | NIV | 43.52 | 26.85 | 1.05 | .31 |
| Decliners | 56.00 | 34.56 | |||
| • Physical mobility | NIV | 50.88 | 35.24 | 0.98 | .34 |
| Decliners | 64.50 | 34.66 | |||
| • Emotional well-being | NIV | 30.31 | 23.41 | 1.42 | .17 |
| Decliners | 44.72 | 25.93 | |||
| MND Dyspnoea Rating Scale | NIV | 20.47 | 10.92 | 0.87 | .39 |
| Decliners | 24.11 | 8.28 | |||
| • Subjective dyspnoea | NIV | 5.71 | 4.36 | 1.20 | .24 |
| Decliners | 8.11 | 5.75 | |||
| • Emotion | NIV | 11.94 | 6.96 | 0.76 | .46 |
| Decliners | 14.00 | 5.85 | |||
| • Mastery | NIV | 3.00 | 2.91 | −.95 | .35 |
| Decliners | 2.00 | 1.58 | |||
| Beck Depression Inventory-II | NIV | 15.18 | 10.26 | 0.48 | .63 |
| Decliners | 17.00 | 6.42 | |||
| Beck Hopelessness Scale | NIV | 4.56 | 3.69 | 0.71 | .49 |
| Decliners | 5.67 | 3.85 | |||
| Patient anxiety | NIV | 4.35 | 3.37 | 0.10 | .92 |
| Decliners | 4.50 | 3.92 | |||
| Patient depression | NIV | 4.06 | 3.85 | 0.64 | .53 |
| Decliners | 5.00 | 3.40 | |||
| Epworth Sleepiness Scale | NIV | 8.29 | 4.41 | −1.24 | .23 |
| Decliners | 6.00 | 5.01 |
Note: SD, standard deviation.