Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of trial participants, by treatment group. Values are numbers (percentages) unless stated otherwise
| Variables | Tai chi (n=151) | Aerobic exercise 2×24 weeks (n=75) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1×12 weeks (n=39) | 2×12 weeks (n=37) | 1×24 weeks (n=39) | 2×24 weeks (n=36) | |||
| Mean (SD) age (years) | 53.0 (12.6) | 52.1 (10.3) | 50.8 (11.8) | 52.1 (13.3) | 50.9 (12.5) | |
| Women | 33 (84.6) | 30 (81.1) | 38 (97.4) | 36 (100.0) | 72 (96.0) | |
| White race | 28 (71.8) | 20 (54.1) | 24 (61.5) | 21 (58.3) | 45 (60.0) | |
| High school or higher education | 38 (97.4) | 35 (94.6) | 35 (92.1) | 35 (97.2) | 72 (96.0) | |
| Mean (SD) duration of body pain (years) | 11.1 (8.8) | 12.6 (12.1) | 12.0 (8.3) | 13.8 (10.4) | 11.3 (8.7) | |
| Mean (SD) body mass index (kg/m2) | 30.6 (6.4) | 30.4 (6.8) | 29.9 (6.4) | 29.3 (7.4) | 30.0 (6.8) | |
| Drugs: | ||||||
| Paracetamol | 29 (74.4) | 24 (64.9) | 25 (65.8) | 24 (66.7) | 45 (60.0) | |
| Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory | 34 (87.2) | 27 (73.0) | 36 (94.7) | 31 (86.1) | 64 (85.3) | |
| Narcotics | 20 (51.3) | 17 (47.2) | 22 (57.9) | 19 (52.8) | 37 (49.3) | |
| Antidepressant | 22 (56.4) | 22 (59.5) | 26 (70.3) | 14 (38.9) | 48 (64.0) | |
| Anticonvulsants | 13 (33.3) | 11 (29.7) | 7 (18.4) | 8 (22.2) | 29 (38.7) | |
| Muscle relaxants | 7 (18.0) | 11 (29.7) | 12 (31.6) | 9 (25.0) | 22 (29.3) | |
| Benzodiazepines | 14 (35.9) | 8 (21.6) | 13 (34.2) | 7 (19.4) | 29 (38.7) | |
| Self reported comorbidities: | ||||||
| Heart disease | 7 (18.0) | 4 (10.8) | 1 (2.6) | 5 (13.9) | 4 (5.3) | |
| Hypertension | 8 (20.5) | 17 (46.0) | 14 (36.8) | 16 (44.4) | 13 (17.3) | |
| Diabetes | 5 (12.8) | 5 (13.5) | 2 (5.3) | 5 (13.9) | 1 (1.3) | |
| Mean (SD) FIQR score (range 0-100)* | 52.4 (18.7) | 53.8 (23.3) | 56.5 (15.5) | 60.4 (17.8) | 57.3 (20.3) | |
| Mean (SD) symptom severity scale score (range 0-12)* | 8.1 (1.9) | 8.7 (2.1) | 8.6 (2.2) | 9.0 (1.7) | 8.7 (2.0) | |
| Mean (SD) patient’s global assessment score (range 0-10)* | 5.6 (2.0) | 6.1 (1.9) | 6.3 (1.8) | 5.9 (1.9) | 6.2 (2.0) | |
| Mean (SD) HADS scores (subscale range 0-21)*: | ||||||
| Depression | 6.9 (3.6) | 7.4 (4.3) | 7.6 (3.9) | 8.5 (4.2) | 7.6 (4.4) | |
| Anxiety | 9.8 (4.8) | 8.4 (3.7) | 8.5 (4.4) | 9.5 (4.6) | 8.8 (3.8) | |
| Mean (SD) Beck depression inventory II score (range 0-63)* | 21.1 (12.0) | 18.9 (11.1) | 22.0 (12.3) | 24.1 (14.1) | 23.1 (11.9) | |
| Mean (SD) coping strategies questionnaire score (range 0-36)† | 14.3 (9.9) | 15.3 (8.6) | 14.9 (8.6) | 17.8 (8.9) | 15.5 (9.0) | |
| Mean (SD) MOS social support survey score (range 0-5)† | 3.3 (1.0) | 3.3 (1.0) | 3.3 (1.1) | 3.2 (1.2) | 3.2 (1.0) | |
| Mean (SD) arthritis self efficacy scale score (range 1-10)† | 5.0 (1.8) | 4.9 (2.4) | 4.9 (2.2) | 5.1 (2.1) | 5.4 (2.1) | |
| Mean (SD) Pittsburgh sleep quality index score (range 0-21)* | 11.6 (4.0) | 11.6 (5.1) | 12.0 (4.1) | 11.3 (3.7) | 12.5 (4.0) | |
| Mean (SD) SF-36 scores (range 0-100)†: | ||||||
| Mental component | 39.5 (10.5) | 42.0 (11.1) | 40.9 (11.9) | 39.1 (9.8) | 39.4 (11.1) | |
| Physical component | 32.8 (6.6) | 32.5 (9.7) | 28.5 (7.3) | 28.5 (6.5) | 30.3 (7.5) | |
| Mean (SD) 6 minute walk test score (m) | 399.5 (80.7) | 400.7 (71.0) | 394.4 (81.1) | 387.7 (87.2) | 406.1 (90.9) | |
| Mean (SD) improved HAQ score (range 0-100)* | 18.3 (13.2) | 26.5 (20.1) | 23.8 (16.5) | 26.7 (17.9) | 26.0 (19.9) | |
| Mean (SD) outcome expectations scale score (range 1-5)† | 3.8 (0.7) | 3.8 (0.9) | 3.7 (0.8) | 3.7 (0.9) | 3.8 (0.8) | |
FIQR=revised fibromyalgia impact questionnaire; HADS=hospital anxiety and depression scale; MOS=Medical Outcome Study; SF-36=short form 36 questionnaire; HAQ=health assessment questionnaire.
*
Higher scores reflect more severe symptoms.
†
Higher scores indicate better status.