Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with or without SCA in NMOSD

Gender, F:M

19:4

133:29

0.952

Age, years

46.82 ± 11.17

42.05 ± 11.52

0.064

Age at onset, years

35.84 ± 13.99

38.49 ± 12.05

0.335

Disease duration, years

7.92 (0.5-30)

1.75 (0–39)

0.001**

SCA duration, years

4.58 (0.6-26)

Annualized relapse rate

0.84 (0.07-3.23)

0.66 (0–12)

0.826

EDSS at clinical onset

6.02 ± 2.16

2.49 ± 2.01

0.001**

EDSS > 6 (at clinical onset)

14 (60.9%)

14 (8.6%)

0.001**

EDSS at last visit

5.37 ± 2.38

4.21 ± 1.80

0.006*

EDSS > 6 (at last visit)

11 (47.8%)

27 (28.9%)

0.001**

Reaching EDSS 6 from onset, n (%)

15 (65.62%)

30 (18.2%)

0.001**

Reaching EDSS 6 duration from onset, years

1 (0.08-6)

2.25 (0.08-23.08)

0.001**

Progression index

0.79 (0.14-12)

0.96 (0–90)

0.410

Clinical features, n (%)

Headache

4 (17.4%)

21 (13%)

0.561

Dizziness

3 (13%)

23 (14.2%)

0.882

Nystagmus

4 (17.4%)

15 (9.3%)

0.229

IHN

6 (26.1%)

43 (26.5%)

0.963

Dysphagia or choking cough

3 (13%)

12 (7.4%)

0.354

Bowel or bladder dysfunction

16 (69.6%)

59 (36.4%)

0.002**

Visual impairment

19 (82.6%)

131 (80.9%)

0.842

Movement disorders

22 (95.7%)

82 (50.6%)

0.001**

Sensory disturbances

21 (91.3%)

112 (69.1%)

0.027*

Neuropathic pain

8 (34.8%)

54 (33.3%)

0.890

Early standard corticosteroid therapy (<7 days of onset)

9 (39.1%)

128 (70.01%)

0.0539