Baseline demographic factors and comorbidity according to ALS status
| Non-ALS group N=2804 | ALS group N=701 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variables | n | Per cent | n | Per cent | p Value |
| Sex | |||||
| Women | 1080 | 38.5 | 270 | 38.5 | |
| Men | 1724 | 61.5 | 431 | 61.5 | |
| Age, years | |||||
| 20–44 | 432 | 15.4 | 108 | 15.4 | |
| 45–69 | 1824 | 65.1 | 456 | 65.1 | |
| ≥70 | 548 | 19.5 | 137 | 19.5 | |
| Mean (SD) | 58.0 | (13.0) | 58.4 | (12.7) | |
| CCI score* | |||||
| 0 | 2072 | 73.9 | 518 | 73.9 | |
| 1–2 | 632 | 22.5 | 158 | 22.5 | |
| ≥3 | 100 | 3.57 | 25 | 3.57 | |
| Mean (SD) | 0.42 | (0.89) | 0.42 | (0.89) | |
| Medications therapy | |||||
| β2-Adrenoceptor agonists† | 61 | 2.18 | 25 | 3.57 | 0.04 |
| Life support measures | |||||
| ICU | 274 | 9.77 | 270 | 38.5 | <0.001 |
| Ventilator use | 216 | 7.70 | 381 | 54.4 | <0.001 |
*Charlson comorbidity index including myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, dementia, chronic pulmonary disease, rheumatological disease, peptic ulcer disease, mild liver disease, diabetes mellitus, diabetes with chronic complications, hemiplegia or paraplegia, renal disease, any malignancy, leukaemia, malignant lymphoma, severe liver disease, acquired immune deficiency syndrome and metastatic solid tumours.
†β2-Adrenoceptor agonists including clenbuterol, orciprenaline (metaproterenol) and salbutamol (albuterol).
ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; CCI, Charlson comorbidity index; ICU, intensive care unit.