Table 5 Baseline participant characteristics
Intervention | Control | Significance p | |
|---|---|---|---|
Mean age in years (standard deviation - SD) | 43.6 (10.7) | 46.3 (11.1) | 0.37 |
Sex | Female 23 (92%) | Female 22 (88%) | 1.00 |
Ethnicity | White British 25 (100%) | White British 25 (100%) | 1.00 |
MS phenotype RRMS – relapsing remitting; SPMS – secondary progressive; PPMS – primary progressive | RRMS 22 (88%) | RRMS 18 (72%) | 0.74 |
SPMS 1 (4%) | SPMS 7 (28%) | ||
PPMS 2 (8%) | |||
Deprivation | 5.0 (2.8) | 5.4 (2.6) | 0.64 |
Education – highest level | Secondary school 3 (12%) | Secondary school 5 (20%) | 0.73 |
College 7 (28%) | College 7 (28%) | ||
University 15 (60%) | University 13 (52%) | ||
Employment | Full time 4 (16%) | Full time 7 (28%) | 0.39 |
Part time 3 (12%) | Part time 6 (24%) | ||
Unemployed 6 (24%) | Unemployed 7 (28%) | ||
Retired 5 (20%) | Retired 3 (12%) | ||
Other 7 (28%) | Other 2 (8%) | ||
Living arrangement | Lives alone 6 (24%) | Lives alone 3 (12%) | 0.54 |
With partner 9 (36%) | With partner 10 (40%) | ||
With family/friends 10 (40%) | With family/friends 12 (48%) | ||
EDSS | 4.5 (1.8) | 4.3 (1.7) | 0.64 |
Mean disease duration in years (SD) | 8.9 (8.5) | 9.6 (9.4) | 0.79 |
Mean total comorbidity count (SD) | 2.5 (2.2) | 2.3 (1.9) | 0.68 |
Mean mental health comorbidity count (SD) | 0.8 (0.83) | 0.7 (0.8) | 0.73 |
• Comorbid anxiety | 11 (44%) | 8 (32%) | 0.12 |
• Comorbid depression | 9 (36%) | 11 (44%) | 0.29 |
Mean physical health comorbidity count (SD) | 1.8 (1.5) | 1.6 (1.5) | 0.71 |
Using analgesic drugs | 19 (76%) | 17 (68%) | 0.75 |
Using disease modifying drugs | 14 (56%) | 12 (48%) | 0.78 |
Using antidepressant drugs | 12 (48%) | 11 (44%) | 1.00 |
Previous meditation/yoga experience | 17 (68%) | 10 (40%) | 0.04 |