Table 2.
Comparison of patients and ALS-patients (93 vs 117).
| variable | value | Controls | ALS | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 58.68 (sd = 8.88) | 60.79 (sd = 11.23) | 0.13 | |
| Gender | female | 54 (58.1) | 42 (35.9) | 0.0014 |
| male | 39 (41.9) | 75 (64.1) | ||
| Occupational physical activity in the last 5 years before disease onset | low | 18 (30.0) | 16 (21.3) | 0.1283 |
| mean | 37 (61.7) | 44 (58.7) | ||
| high | 5 (8.3) | 15 (20.0) | ||
| Occupational physical activity more than 5 years before disease onset | low | 21 (23.3) | 24 (21.6) | 0.7620 |
| mean | 54 (60.0) | 64 (57.7) | ||
| high | 15 (16.7) | 23 (20.7) | ||
| dietary habits | none | 79 (85.9) | 103 (91.2) | 0.5828 |
| vegetarian | 6 (6.5) | 5 (4.4) | ||
| Gluten free | 1 (1.1) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Low carb | 5 (5.4) | 5 (4.4) | ||
| Lactose free | 1 (1.1) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Region of birth | rural | 31 (33.3) | 52 (47.3) | 0.0441 |
| urban | 62 (66.7) | 58 (52.7) | ||
| Place of birth | village (<1000 inhabitants) | 13 (14.0) | 23 (20.2) | 0.1754 |
| country town (1000-5000 inhabitants) | 6 (6.5) | 9 (7.9) | ||
| small town (5000 - 20000 inhabitants) | 7 (7.5) | 18 (15.8) | ||
| middle towns (20000 - 100000 inhabitants) | 26 (28.0) | 23 (20.2) | ||
| large town (>100000 inhabitants) | 41 (44.1) | 41 (36.0) | ||
| Region of living more than 5 years before disease onset | rural | 34 (36.6) | 61 (55.0) | 0.0087 |
| urban | 59 (63.4) | 50 (45.0) | ||
| Region of living in the last 5 years before disease onset | rural | 39 (41.9) | 66 (59.5) | 0.0126 |
| urban | 54 (58.1) | 45 (40.5) | ||
| Toxic influence in the last 5 years before disease onset | none | 74 (79.6) | 93 (82.3) | 0.6628 |
| Sewage plant | 6 (6.5) | 6 (5.3) | ||
| Landfills | 3 (3.2) | 5 (4.4) | ||
| Waste incinerators | 1 (1.1) | 3 (2.7) | ||
| EM fields | 7 (7.5) | 6 (5.3) | ||
| Chemical plant | 2 (2.2) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Toxic influence more than 5 years before disease onset | none | 79 (84.9) | 92 (81.4) | 0.7588 |
| Sewage plant | 3 (3.2) | 4 (3.5) | ||
| Landfills | 2 (2.2) | 3 (2.7) | ||
| Waste incinerators | 2 (2.2) | 3 (2.7) | ||
| EM fields | 4 (4.3) | 9 (8.0) | ||
| Chemical plant | 1 (1.1) | 2 (1.8) | ||
| Coal-burning power plant | 2 (2.2) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Place of living in the last 5 years before disease onset | village (<1000 inhabitants) | 6 (6.5) | 15 (13.2) | 0.0214 |
| country town (1000-5000 inhabitants) | 6 (6.5) | 9 (7.9) | ||
| small town (5000 - 20000 inhabitants) | 9 (9.7) | 20 (17.5) | ||
| middle towns (20000 - 100000 inhabitants) | 21 (22.6) | 33 (28.9) | ||
| large town (>100000 inhabitants) | 51 (54.8) | 37 (32.5) | ||
| Place of living more than 5 years before disease onset | village (<1000 inhabitants) | 7 (7.5) | 17 (14.9) | 0.0024 |
| country town (1000-5000 inhabitants) | 5 (5.4) | 9 (7.9) | ||
| small town (5000 - 20000 inhabitants) | 5 (5.4) | 17 (14.9) | ||
| middle towns (20000 - 100000 inhabitants) | 21 (22.6) | 34 (29.8) | ||
| large town (>100000 inhabitants) | 55 (59.1) | 37 (32.5) | ||
| Smoking habits | non-smokers | 41 (44.1) | 52 (46.0) | 0.5596 |
| Ex-smokers | 38 (40.9) | 39 (34.5) | ||
| Current smokers | 14 (15.1) | 22 (19.5) | ||
| Regular physical exercise | no | 26 (28.0) | 25 (22.1) | 0.3344 |
| yes | 67 (72.0) | 88 (77.9) | ||
| Physical exercise differentiated | No sport | 10 (10.8) | 12 (10.7) | 0.0806 |
| Intense, 150min/week moderate aerobic activity | 41 (44.1) | 68 (60.7) | ||
| Intense, 75min/week vigorous aerobic activity | 31 (33.3) | 22 (19.6) | ||
| Mild physical exercise | 11 (11.8) | 10 (8.9) |
Absolute numbers of the study groups, percentages in brackets. Relevant p-values (< 0.2) are shown in bold.