Table 3.
Clinical validity – symptomatic and asymptomatic
| N | U | Symptomatic | Asymptomatic | P value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | Mean Rank | N | Mean rank | ||||
| EDSS | 63 | 929.000 | 37 | 44.11 | 26 | 14.77 | < 0.0005 * |
| ALDS | 64 | 231.000 | 36 | 24.92 | 28 | 42.25 | < 0.0005 * |
| SF-36: Physical functioning | 64 | 294.500 | 36 | 26.68 | 28 | 39.98 | 0.005 * |
| SF-36: Role physical | 64 | 379.500 | 36 | 29.04 | 28 | 36.95 | 0.09 |
| SF-36: Bodily pain | 64 | 360.000 | 36 | 28.50 | 28 | 37.64 | 0.051 |
| SF-36: General health perceptions | 64 | 370.000 | 36 | 28.78 | 28 | 37.29 | 0.070 |
| SF-36: Vitality | 63 | 512.000 | 35 | 32.63 | 28 | 31.21 | 0.761 |
| SF-36: Social functioning | 64 | 496.000 | 36 | 32.28 | 28 | 32.79 | 0.914 |
| SF-36: Role emotional | 64 | 588.000 | 36 | 34.83 | 28 | 29.50 | 0.249 |
| SF-36: Mental health | 63 | 517.000 | 35 | 32.77 | 28 | 31.04 | 0.709 |
| SF-36: Physical component summary | 63 | 282.000 | 35 | 26.06 | 28 | 39.43 | 0.004 * |
| SF-36: Mental component summary | 63 | 614.000 | 35 | 35.54 | 28 | 27.57 | 0.086 |
Mann-Whitney U tests were run to assess if there were differences in scores between symptomatic and asymptomatic women at baseline. * indicates a significant p value. ALDS = AMC Linear Disability Scale; EDSS = Expanded Disability Status Scale; N = number of patients; Role emotional = role limitations due to emotional problems; Role physical = role limitations due to physical problems; SF-36 = Short Form (36) Health Survey; U = Mann-Whitney U statistic