Table 2

LIS patients' socio-demographic, disease characteristics, quality of life and end-of-life data in unhappy (ACSA ratings <0) versus happy (ACSA ≥0) respondents

All patients (N=65)Unhappy (ACSA <0) (N=18)Happy (ACSA ≥0) (N=47)p Value
Mean age±SD (years)49±1150±1049±120.571
Male gender43/63 (68%)12/18 (67%)31/45 (69%)0.864
Mean duration in LIS* (years), median (IQR)8 (5–10)7 (3–8)9 (5–13)0.005
Educational level: university or college (vs high school or lower)25/56 (45%)5/16 (31%)20/40 (50%)0.197
Net monthly income ≥€2500 (vs <€2500)20/53 (38%)4/13 (30%)16/40 (40%)0.547
Place of living: home (vs institution)38/59 (64%)9/17 (53%)29/42 (69%)0.247
Living with spouse or partner (vs single)36/56 (64%)9/16 (56%)27/40 (67%)0.431
Religious (vs non-religious)40/57 (70%)13/16 (81%)27/41 (66%)0.240
Recovery of speech production*
 None26/58 (45%)10/16 (63%)16/42 (38%)0.049
 Words11/58 (19%)4/16 (25%)7/42 (17%)
 Sentences21/58 (36%)2/16 (12%)19/42 (45%)
Recovery of some limb mobility39/56 (70%)10/17 (59%)29/39 (74%)0.252
Reintegration to Normal Living Index items
 I move around my living quarters as I feel necessary
  Yes23/60 (38%)6/17 (35%)17/43 (40%)0.453
  Rather yes13/60 (22%)2/17 (12%)11/43 (26%)
  Rather no10/60 (17%)3/17 (18%)7/43 (16%)
  No14/60 (23%)6/17 (35%)8/43 (18%)
 I move around my community as I feel necessary*
  Yes6/59 (10%)0/18 (0%)6/41 (15%)0.042
  Rather yes16/59 (27%)4/18 (22%)12/41 (29%)
  Rather no14/59 (24%)3/18 (17%)11/41 (27%)
  No23/59 (39%)11/18 (61%)12/41 (29%)
 I am able to take trips out of town as I feel necessary
  Yes17/57 (30%)3/17 (18%)14/40 (35%)0.298
  Rather yes13/57 (23%)3/17 (18%)10/40 (25%)
  Rather no7/57 (12%)2/17 (11%)5/40 (13%)
  No20/57 (35%)9/17 (53%)11/40 (27%)
 I am comfortable with how my self-care needs (dressing, feeding, toileting, bathing) are met
  Yes36/59 (61%)10/18 (56%)26/41 (64%)0.292
  Rather yes16/59 (27%)4/18 (22%)12/41 (29%)
  Rather no3/59 (5%)1/18 (6%)2/41 (5%)
  No4/59 (7%)3/18 (16%)1/41 (2%)
 I spend most of my days occupied in work activity that is necessary or important to me
  Yes8/60 (13%)1/18 (5%)7/42 (17%)0.390
  Rather yes5/60 (8%)2/18 (12%)3/42 (7%)
  Rather no7/60 (12%)1/18 (5%)6/42 (14%)
  No40/60 (67%)14/18 (78%)26/42 (62%)
 I am able to participate in recreational activities (hobbies, crafts, sports, reading, television, games, computers, etc) as I want to*
  Yes35/61 (57%)8/18 (44%)27/43 (63%)0.028
  Rather yes18/61 (31%)4/18 (22%)14/43 (33%)
  Rather no2/61 (3%)1/18 (6%)1/43 (2%)
  No6/61 (9%)5/18 (28%)1/43 (2%)
 I participate in social activities with family, friends and/or business acquaintances as is necessary or desirable to me
  Yes22/60 (37%)5/18 (28%)17/42 (40%)0.113
  Rather yes14/60 (23%)4/18 (2%)10/42 (24%)
  Rather no9/60 (15%)1/18 (6%)8/42 (19%)
  No15/60 (25%)8/18 (44%)7/42 (17%)
 I assume a role in my family which meets my needs and those of my family members
  Yes25/59 (42%)8/18 (44%)17/41 (41%)0.396
  Rather yes21/59 (36%)4/18 (22%)17/41 (41%)
  Rather no5/59 (8%)2/18 (12%)3/41 (8%)
  No8/59 (14%)4/18 (22%)4/41 (10%)
 In general I am comfortable with my personal relationships
  Yes32/61(52%)9/18 (50%)23/43 (53%)0.884
  Rather yes18/61 (30%)5/18 (28%)13/43 (30%)
  Rather no4/61 (7%)1/18 (5%)3/43 (7%)
  No7/61 (11%)3/18 (17%)4/43 (10%)
 In general I am comfortable with myself when I am in the company of others
  Yes27/60 (45%)7/18 (39%)20/42 (48%)0.293
  Rather yes19/60 (31%)4/18 (22%)15/42 (36%)
  Rather no7/60 (12%)3/18 (17%)4/42 (9%)
  No7/60 (12%)4/18 (22%)3/42 (7%)
 I feel that I can deal with life events as they happen*
  Yes20/60 (33%)6/18 (33%)14/42 (33%)0.022
  Rather yes18/60 (30%)3/18 (17%)15/42 (36%)
  Rather no12/60 (20%)2/18 (11%)10/42 (24%)
  No10/60 (17%)7/18 (39%)3/42 (7%)
Depression, anxiety and pain
 Depression*
  Yes8/60 (13%)5/18 (28%)3/42 (7%)0.040
  No52/60 (87%)13/18 (72%)39/42 (93%)
 Anxiety*
  No20/61 (33%)5/18 (28%)15/43 (35%)0.015
  Moderate33/61 (54%)7/18 (39%)26/43 (60%)
  Extreme8/61 (13%)6/18 (33%)2/43 (5%)
 Pain
  No32/59 (54%)10/18 (56%)22/41 (54%)0.071
  Moderate25/59 (43%)6/18 (33%)19/41 (46%)
  Extreme2/59 (3%)2/18 (11%)0/41 (0%)
End-of-life issues
 Resuscitation in case of cardiac arrest*
  Yes23/55 (42%)2/14 (14%)21/41 (51%)0.011
  No32/55 (58%)12/14 (86%)20/41 (49%)
 Euthanasia*
  Envisaged31/59 (53%)12/16 (75%)19/43 (44%)0.032
  Never envisaged28/59 (47%)4/16 (25%)24/43 (56%)
 Suicidal thoughts*
  Never40/59 (68%)9/17 (54%)31/42 (74%)0.040
  Occasionally14/59 (24%)4/17 (23%)10/42 (24%)
  Often5/59 (8%)4/17 (23%)1/42 (2%)
  • * Significant variables identified by the univariate analyses comparing unhappy versus happy with related p values.

  • ACSA, Anamnestic Comparative Self-Assessment Scale; LIS, locked-in syndrome.