Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of ALS patients.
| Baseline characteristics (n = 580) | |
|---|---|
| Age (years) | 65 ± 12 (23–89) |
| Gender (male) | 335 (58%) |
| El Escorial criteria | |
| Definite | 102 (18%) |
| Probable | 266 (46%) |
| Possible | 25 (4%) |
| Probable-laboratory supported | 59 (10%) |
| Alternative diagnosis | |
| PMA | 127 (22%) |
| UMN vs. LMN at onset | |
| UMN | 178 (31%) |
| LMN | 390 (68%) |
| UMN and LMN | 8 (1%) |
| Bulbar-onset | 128 (22%) |
| Respiratory onset | 22 (9%) |
| ALSFRS-R rate of decline (per month) | 0.9 ± 1.1 (0-12) |
| Cognitive symptoms at onset | 29 (5%) |
| ALS/FTD family history | 57 (10%) |
| Place of living | |
| Rural area | 84 (15%) |
| Urban area | 491 (85%) |
| Monthly average income (euros) | |
| <1,000 | 328 (57%) |
| >1,000 | 235 (40%) |
ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; ALSFRS-R, ALS Functional Rating Scale—Revised; FTD, frontotemporal dementia; LMN, lower motor neuron; PMA, progressive muscular atrophy; UMN, upper motor neuron.