Table 4:
Hazard ratios for symptom resolution, based on the imputed data set
| Treatment | Time to complete symptom resolution, d, median (IQR) | HR (95% CI) | Time to resolution of mod bad/worse symptoms, d, median (IQR) | HR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Univariable | Multivariable* | Univariable | Multivariable* | |||
| Probiotic comparison | ||||||
| No probiotic | 9 (6 to 13) | 1.00 (ref) | 1.00 (ref) | 5 (3 to 8) | 1.00 (ref) | 1.00 (ref) |
| Probiotic | 9 (6 to 13) | 1.03 (0.86 to 1.24) | 1.02 (0.84 to 1.24) | 4 (2 to 7) | 1.09 (0.94 to 1.28) | 1.08 (0.91 to 1.28) |
| Gum comparison | ||||||
| No chewing gum | 9 (6 to 13) | 1.00 (ref) | 1.00 (ref) | 4 (2 to 7) | 1.00 (ref) | 1.00 (ref) |
| Sorbitol gum | 9 (7 to 14) | 0.90 (0.72 to 1.14) | 0.88 (0.69 to 1.12) | 5 (3 to 8) | 0.83 (0.69 to 1.01) | 0.85 (0.69 to 1.04) |
| Xylitol gum | 8 (6 to 12) | 1.08 (0.87 to 1.35) | 1.09 (0.86 to 1.39) | 4 (2 to 7) | 0.93 (0.77 to 1.12) | 0.95 (0.77 to 1.17) |
| Xylitol comparison | ||||||
| No xylitol | 9 (6 to 13) | 1.00 (ref) | 1.00 (ref) | 4 (2 to 7) | 1.00 (ref) | 1.00 (ref) |
| Xylitol | 8 (6 to 12) | 1.14 (0.94 to 1.38) | 1.16 (0.95 to 1.43) | 4 (2 to 7) | 1.02 (0.87 to 1.20) | 1.03 (0.87 to 1.24) |
Note: CI = confidence interval, HR = hazard ratio, IQR = interquartile range, “mod bad/worse” = moderately bad or worse.
*
Using Cox regression controlling for age, duration of current sore throat, number of sore throat episodes in the past 3 months, prior tonsillectomy, inflamed pharynx, cough, temperature > 37.5°C, pus on tonsils, cervical nodes, ever smoked, antibiotics prescribed (none, immediate, delayed).