Table 1 Comparisons of socio-demographics, diagnosis and treatment history, number of comorbid conditions, social support and active lifestyle and MG-ADL by gender
From: Gender differences in quality of life among patients with myasthenia gravis in China
| Â | Men | Valid N | Women | Valid N | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total number | 34% | 621 | 66% | 1194 | Â |
Socio-demographic variables | |||||
 Average age (Mean ± SD) | 43.44 ± 13.59 | 621 | 39.82 ± 12.98 | 1194 | < 0.001 |
 Educational level |  | 621 |  | 1194 | < 0.001 |
  Elementary school or lower | 45 (7.25%) |  | 141 (11.81%) |  | |
  Junior high school | 172 (27.70%) |  | 322 (26.97%) |  | |
  Senior high school | 188 (30.27%) |  | 263 (22.03%) |  | |
  Junior college or above | 216 (34.78%) |  | 468 (39.20%) |  | |
 Employment status |  | 621 |  | 1194 | < 0.001 |
  Employment | 287 (46.22%) |  | 408 (34.17%) |  | |
  Unemployment | 334 (53.78%) |  | 786 (65.83%) |  | |
 Not employed due to MG | 238 (71.26%) | 238 | 548 (69.72%) | 548 | 0.658 |
 Annual household income (Mean ± SD)a | 50,598.95 ± 43,337.15 | 621 | 44,442.01 ± 36,557.39 | 1194 | < 0.001 |
Diagnosis and treatment history | |||||
 Average onset age (Mean ± SD) | 34.36 ± 16.62 | 621 | 29.82 ± 14.87 | 548 | < 0.001 |
 Disease duration (median (range)) | 4.75 (1.92–9.75) | 621 | 5.54 (2.50–11.40) | 548 | 0.002 |
 Thymic hyperplasia | 105 (24.82%) | 423 | 261 (34.66%) | 753 | < 0.001 |
 Thymic tumor | 203 (35.43%) | 573 | 254 (23.01%) | 1104 | < 0.001 |
 Thymectomy | 272 (43.80%) | 621 | 446 (37.35%) | 1194 | 0.009 |
 ICU admission | 218 (35.86%) | 608 | 404 (33.47%) | 1172 | 0.597 |
 MG exacerbations | 192 (30.92%) | 560 | 421 (35.26%) | 1069 | =0.05 |
 Prednisone treatment |  | 590 |  | 1151 | 0.989 |
  Current prednisone | 295 (50.00%) |  | 572 (49.70%) |  |  |
  Past prednisone | 141 (23.90%) |  | 275 (23.89%) |  |  |
  Never had prednisone | 154 (26.10%) |  | 304 (26.41%) |  |  |
Number of comorbid conditions | 295 | Â | 570 | 0.088 | |
 One | 72 (24.41%) |  | 124 (21.75%) |  | |
 Two | 37 (12.54%) |  | 56 (9.82%) |  | |
 Three or more | 41 (13.90%) |  | 60 (10.53%) |  | |
Social support and active lifestyle | |||||
 Social support (Mean ± SD) |  | 621 |  | 1194 |  |
  Tangible support | 59.77 ± 28.03 |  | 58.61 ± 27.70 |  | 0.398 |
  Affectionate support | 43.75 ± 25.37 |  | 47.19 ± 24.98 |  | < 0.01 |
  Positive social interaction | 45.25 ± 24.78 |  | 45.59 ± 24.92 |  | 0.783 |
  Emotional/information support | 43.04 ± 26.39 |  | 48.63 ± 25.56 |  | < 0.001 |
 Active lifestyle | 42.42 ± 12.30 | 621 | 40.71 ± 11.93 | 1194 | < 0.01 |
MG-ADL (Mean ± SD)b | 6.15 ± 4.54 | 621 | 6.75 ± 4.47 | 1194 | < 0.01 |