Table 2.

Between-group differences in cognitive test performance and demographic/clinical characteristics in 39 patients with multiple sclerosis.

Parameter	Multiple sclerosis type		Mean difference(95% CI)	Statistical significance
	Relapsing forms(RRMS and CIS)n = 32	Progressive forms(SPMS and PPMS)n = 7
SDMT, z-score	–0.39 ± 1.55	–2.11 ± 1.26	1.73 (0.46, 3.00)	P = 0.009
GVLT, z-score	0.01 ± 1.10	–1.76 ±1.25	1.77 (0.82, 2.72)	P = 0.001
BVMT, z-score	1.18 ± 0.95	0.51 ± 1.21	0.67 (–0.17, 1.51)	NS, P = 0.115
BICAMS, z-score	0.27 ± 1.00	–1.12 ± 1.05	1.39 (0.54, 2.24)	P = 0.002
PASAT3, score	41.8 ± 12.1	27.1 ± 9.7	14.7 (4.8, 24.6)	P = 0.005
EDSS, score	2.0 (0, 2.5)	5.5 (4.0, 6.0)	n/a	P < 0.001
NfL, ng/l	701.5 (384.25, 1121.25)	1120.0 (834.5, 1402.5)	n/a	NS, P = 0.143
Age, years	39.9 ±12.1	55.7 ± 13.5	–15.8 (–26.3, –5.4)	P = 0.004
Disease duration, months	33.0 (11.5, 132.0)	114.0 (42.0, 120.0)	n/a	NS, P = 0.390
Education, tertiary	15 (46.9)	1 (14.3)	n/a	NS, P = 0.206

Data presented as mean ± SD, median (interquartile range) or n (%) prevalence, and statistically analysed using Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Student’s t-test, or Fisher’s exact test.

BICAMS, brief international cognitive assessment for multiple sclerosis; BVMT, brief visuospatial memory test; CI, confidence interval; CIS, clinically isolated syndrome; PASAT3, paced auditory serial addition test; PPMS, primary progressive multiple sclerosis; RRMS, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; SDMT, symbol digit modalities test; GVLT, Greek verbal learning test; SPMS, secondary progressive multiple sclerosis; n/a, not applicable.

NS, no statistically significant between-group difference (P > 0.05).