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Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study population and the “complete study sample”

From: Prognosis of patients with whiplash-associated disorders consulting physiotherapy: development of a predictive model for recovery

Characteristics (potential prognostic factors)* Category Study population (n=680) Complete study sample**(n=569)
Freq.a(n) %b Miss.c(n) Freq.a(n) %b
Socio-demographics
Age, mean (SD)   39 (15)   39 (15)
Sex Females 471 69.3   403 70.8
Marital status Single 215 31.6   188 33.0
  Married 381 56.0   315 55.4
  Widowed 21 3.1   18 3.2
  Separated/Divorced 63 9.3   48 8.4
Education < Grade 8 33 4.9 1 28 4.9
  Grade 8 97 14.3   76 13.4
  High school 173 25.4   148 26.0
  Post-secondary school 189 27.8   165 29.0
  Technical school 102 15.0   83 14.6
  University 85 12.5   69 12.1
Work statusd Working 537 79.0   452 79.4
Collision, symptoms, comorbidity and health care
No. of days to reporting the collision, mean (SD) 16 (10)   16 (9)
Neck pain intensitye No pain 0 0   0 0
  Mild 91 13.4 12 85 14.9
  Moderate 300 44.1   260 45.7
  Severe 277 40.7   224 39.4
Low back pain intensitye No pain 295 43.4 12 259 45.5
  Mild 79 11.6   66 11.6
  Moderate 171 25.2   143 25.1
  Severe 123 18.1   101 17.8
Headache intensitye No pain 116 17.1 3 105 18.4
  Mild 101 14.9   82 14.4
  Moderate 233 34.3   201 35.3
  Severe 227 33.4   181 31.8
Pain other than neck and back pain Yes 529 77.8   432 75.9
Symptoms in arms or handsf Yes 293 43.1   235 41.3
Pain when moving neck Yes 593 87.2   494 86.8
Reduced neck movement Yes 525 77.2   437 76.8
Sleeping problems Yes 470 69.1   396 69.6
Musculoskeletal problem before collisiong Absent 459 67.5 3 384 67.5
  No/Mild 140 20.6   125 22.0
  Severe 78 11.5   60 10.5
Headache before collisionh Absent 412 60.6 1 345 60.6
  No/Mild 180 26.5   154 27.0
  Severe 87 12.8   70 12.4
Restrictions in daily home activity Yes 411 60.4   342 60.1
Restrictions in leisure activityi Yes 114 16.8   99 17.4
MD visits since collisionj 1 285 41.9 5 251 44.1
  2 238 35.0   192 33.7
  ≥ 3 152 22.4   126 22.1
PT visits since collisionk 1 246 36.2 10 198 34.8
  2 189 27.8   164 28.8
  ≥ 3 235 34.6   207 36.4
General health and psychology
Recovery expectationsl Better soon 142 20.9 1 130 22.9
  Better slowly/Never better 320 47.1   267 46.9
  Don′t know 217 31.9   172 30.2
Current general healthm Excellent 17 2.5   15 2.6
  Very good 54 7.9   49 8.6
  Good 190 27.9   164 28.8
  Fair 288 42.4   241 42.4
  Poor 131 19.3   100 17.6
General health the month before collisionn Excellent 255 37.5   214 37.6
  Very good 250 36.8   218 38.3
  Good 130 19.1   100 17.6
  Fair/Poor 45 6.6   37 6.5
Anxiety or worry Yes 285 41.9   238 41.8
Depressed moodo Yes 300 44.7 18 255 44.8
  1. * Note: All characteristics (potential prognostic factors) concerned problems that participants experienced as a result of the injury unless otherwise stated.
  2. ** Sample without patients who was lost to follow-up (n=81) and/or had missing data on potential prognostic factors (n=47).
  3. a No. of subjects in the category unless otherwise stated.
  4. b Percent unless otherwise stated.
  5. c No. of missing answer for the potential prognostic factor.
  6. d Work status: Not working; unemployed, disability leave, maternity leave, retired, homemaker, Working; fulltime, part time and student.
  7. e 11 point numeric rating scale (NRS) were 0 = no pain at all and 10 = pain as bad as it could be. Mild: 1-4, Moderate: 5-7, Severe: 8-10.
  8. f Feeling of numbness, tingling or pain in arms or hands.
  9. g The effect on health from muscle, bone or joint problems within 6 months before the collision.
  10. h The effect on health from headache within 6 months before the collision.
  11. i Activities not related to home, work or education.
  12. j MD: Medical doctor.
  13. k PT: Physical therapist.
  14. l The answer to the “question”: “Do you think that your injury will…”.
  15. m The answer to the question: “In general, how would you say your health is now?”.
  16. n The answer to the question: “How was your health the month before the collision?”.
  17. o Based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depressive scale (CED-S) indicating depressed mood the past week: Yes = depressed mood (CED-S ≥16).
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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

ISSN: 1471-2474

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