Table 7.

Multivariate linear regression analysis for independent predictors of patient SAS scores

Variable	Regression coefficient	Standardized regression coefficient	P-value	Regression coefficient 95% CI
Constant	36.423		<0.001	23.489	49.356
Sex	0.556	0.036	0.743	−2.807	3.919
Age	−0.139	−0.168	0.117	−0.313	0.036
Education	7.189	0.41	<0.001	3.492	10.885
Disease course	−1.257	−0.073	0.501	−4.958	2.445
ALSFRS score	4.972	0.268	0.013	1.089	8.854
Disease awareness	1.652	0.108	0.311	−1.578	4.881

Notes: Lower educational level and higher ALSFRS scores were predictive of lower SAS scores. Lower education and higher ALSFRS scores were protective factors against anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Abbreviations: SAS, Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale; ALSFRS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Functional Rating Scale; CI, confidence interval.