Table 1.
Participant demographics and clinical features of patients with ALS
| Patients with ALS | Controls | |
|---|---|---|
| Age (years), mean ± SD | 59 ± 9.22 | 56 ± 10.29 |
| Sex | ||
| Females (%) | 16 (33) | 11 (48) |
| Site of onset | ||
| Spinal (%) | 32 (67) | |
| Bulbar (%) | 14 (29) | |
| Respiratory (%) | 1 (2) | |
| Mixed (%) | 1 (2) | |
| Disease duration (years)a, mean ± SD (range) | 2.33 ± 1.66 (0.67–8.00) | |
| ALSFRS-Rb, mean ± SD (range) | 36.46 ± 5.53 (21–46) | |
| ALSFRS-R Bulbarc, mean ± SD (range) | 9.94 ± 1.95 (4–12) | |
| ΔALSFRS-Rd, mean ± SD (range) | 0.59 ± 0.44 (0.08–1.99) | |
| SNIPe (% of predicted), mean ± SD (range) | 60.10 ± 19.64 (25–99) | |
| FVCf (% of predicted), mean ± SD (range) | 85.12 ± 20.15 (34–116) | |
a
Duration calculated from the time of symptom onset to the collection of blood sample.
b
ALSFRS-R scored at the time of blood collection.
c
ALSFRS-R bulbar subscore ranges from 0 to 12, with lower scores indicating a greater severity of bulbar symptoms.
d
Rate of disease progression was calculated as the change in ALSFRS-R from the date of symptom onset to sample collection.
e
SNIP, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure.
f
FVC, forced vital capacity.
SD, standard deviation.