Table 2.
Demographics high vs low EDSS.
| Clinical measures | Total(n = 222) | EDSS ≤ 2.5(n = 120) | EDSS ≥ 4.0(n = 102) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age [years]* | 46.5 (10.6) | 41.0 (8.5) | 53.1 (8.9) | <0.001a | |
| Sex [female, %]** | 160 (72.1) | 87 (72.5) | 73 (71.6) | 0.88b | |
| Education level [median, IQR]*** | 5 (4 – 6) | 5 (4 – 6) | 4 (3 – 6) | 0.001c | |
| Symptom duration [years]* | 14.4 (8.4) | 10.6 (5.7) | 18.8 (8.8) | <0.001a | |
| DMT used** | 126 (56.8) | 67 (55.8) | 59 (57.8) | 0.76b | |
| EDSS*** | 2.5 (2.0 – 4.5) | 2.0 (1.5 – 2.5) | 5.0 (4.0 – 6.0) | <0.001c | |
| CP/MCI/CI [%]*** | 53.6 / 17.6 / 28.8 | 68.3 / 18.3 / 13.3 | 36.3 / 16.7 / 47.1 | <0.001b | |
| RRMS/SPMS | 176 / 46 | 119 / 1 | 57 / 45 | <0.001b | |
| Information processing speed [z-score] * | −1.18 (1.4) | −0.67 (1.2) | −1.80 (1.4) | <0.001a | |
| Executive functioning [z-score] * | −1.04 (1.8) | −0.50 (1.0) | −1.71 (2.4) | <0.001a | |
| Working memory [z-score] * | −1.03 (1.4) | −0.51 (1.0) | −1.69 (1.6) | <0.001a | |
| Verbal memory [z-score] * | −0.45 (1.1) | −0.25 (1.0) | −0.70 (1.2) | 0.002a | |
| Verbal fluency [z-score] * | −0.52 (1.1) | −0.22 (1.0) | −0.86 (1.0) | <0.001a | |
| Visuospatial memory [z-score] * | −0.63 (1.2) | −0.28 (1.1) | −1.04 (1.2) | <0.001a | |
| Attention [z-score] * | −0.66 (1.1) | −0.39 (0.9) | −0.98 (1.3) | <0.001a | |
| MRI measures | |||||
| T2-hyperintense lesion loads [mL]* | |||||
| Total T2-hyperintense lesion load | 14.7 (13.2) | 11.2 (9.0) | 18.9 (15.9) | <0.001a | |
| Inner lesions | 4.3 (3.3) | 3.6 (2.5) | 5.2 (3.8) | <0.001a | |
| Deep lesions | 6.9 (7.4) | 5.1 (4.9) | 9.1 (9.2) | <0.001a | |
| Outer lesions | 3.5 (3.4) | 2.6 (2.3) | 4.6 (4.1) | <0.001a | |
| Infratentorial | 0.01 (0.04) | 0.01 (0.03) | 0.02 (0.04) | 0.31 a | |
| Brain and spinal cord volumes [mL] * | |||||
| Total brain volume | 1133.0 (111.3) | 1153.1 (109.4) | 1109.4 (109.4) | 0.003a | |
| Basal Ganglia | 34.2 (3.6) | 34.9 (3.6) | 33.3 (3.5) | <0.001a | |
| Hippocampus | 7.6 (0.7) | 7.7 (0.8) | 7.4 (0.7) | 0.011 a | |
| Thalamus | 10.1 (1.5) | 10.6 (1.3) | 9.4 (1.3) | <0.001a | |
| Cingulate | 27.7 (3.3) | 28.1 (3.2) | 27.2 (3.4) | 0.04 a | |
| Frontal lobe | 180.1 (19.0) | 185.4 (19.6) | 173.9 (16.2) | <0.001a | |
| Insula | 10.7 (1.3) | 11.0 (1.3) | 10.3 (1.2) | <0.001a | |
| Occipital lobe | 66.3 (8.0) | 68.3 (7.8) | 64.0 (7.7) | <0.001a | |
| Parietal lobe | 91.1 (10.2) | 94.0 (10.2) | 87.8 (9.3) | <0.001a | |
| Temporal lobe | 127.7 (13.5) | 130.7 (13.9) | 124.1 (12.1) | <0.001a | |
| Cerebellar grey matter | 94.3 (9.7) | 96.6 (9.3) | 91.6 (9.5) | <0.001a | |
| MUCCA | 64.5 (8.3) | 65.6 (8.3) | 63.2 (8.2) | 0.07 a | |
| Functional hubness (EC [z-scores]) | |||||
| Basal ganglia network | −0.016 (0.24) | −0.067 (0.235) | 0.044 (0.224) | <0.001a | |
| Default mode network | −0.004 (0.21) | −0.035 (0.221) | 0.033 (0.200) | 0.017a | |
| Sensorimotor cortex network | −0.039 (0.22) | −0.021 (0.216) | −0.058 (0.216) | 0.206a | |
| White matter tract integrity (FA [0–1]) | |||||
| Anterior thalamic radiation | 0.45 (0.03) | 0.47 (0.02) | 0.44 (0.04) | <0.001a | |
| Corticospinal tract | 0.65 (0.03) | 0.66 (0.02) | 0.64 (0.03) | <0.001a | |
| Cingulum | 0.56 (0.05) | 0.58 (0.04) | 0.55 (0.05) | <0.001a | |
| Other WM tracts | 0.53 (0.04) | 0.54 (0.03) | 0.51 (0.04) | <0.001a | |
* Mean (standard deviation), ** number (percentage), *** median (IQR). a Independent-samples t-test, b chi-square test, c Mann-Whitney U test.
CI: cognitively impaired; CP: cognitively preserved; DMT: disease modifying treatment, EDSS: expanded disability status scale, IQR: interquartile range, MCI: mild cognitively impaired.
Table 2 shows the clinical measures of the patient group split into low and higher EDSS.