Table 3

Subgroup analyses for patients and physicians assessments (mean changes of outcome parameters after 24 months compared to baseline, negative Δ indicates improvement)


Patients assessments (NRS)
Physicians assessments (NRS)

Mean†
95%-CI
p value*
Mean†
95%-CI
p value*

Total (n = 3981)
-3.3
-3.4 to -3.2

-3.9
-4.0 to -3.8
0,060
Gender
     Female (n = 2560)
-3.4
-3.5 to -3.2

-3.9
-4.0 to -3.8

     Male (n = 1412)
-3.3
-3.4 to -3.1
0.387
-3.9
-4.0 to -3.8
0,060
Age groups (years)
     <10 (n = 839)
-4.0
-4.2 to -3.8

-4.4
-4.6 to -4.2

     10–19 (n = 355)
-3.5
-3.7 to -3.2
<0.001
-4.3
-4.5 to -4.0
0.149
     20–39 (n = 1456)
-3.4
-3.6 to -3.3
<0.001
-3.7
-3.8 to -3.6
<0.001
     40–59 (n = 1041)
-2.8
-3.8 to -2.0
<0.001
-3.6
-3.8 to -3.5
<0.001
     ≥ 60 (n = 281)
-2.6
-2.9 to -2.2
<0.001
-3.5
-3.8 to -3.2
<0.001
Baseline severity of disease
     NRS < 6.0 (n = 1660)
-2.1
-2.3 to -2.0

-3.1
-3.2 to -3.0

     NRS ≥ 6.0 (n = 2310)
-4.1
-4.2 to -4.0
<0.001
-4.6
-4.7 to -4.5
<0.001
Duration of disease in adults (years)
     < 10 (n = 1878)
-3.2
-3.4 to -3.1

-3.7
-3.8 to -3.6

     ≥ 10 (n = 927)
-2.9
-3.1 to -2.7
<0.001
-3.6
-3.7 to -3.4
0.043
Intake of conventional drugs at baseline
     Yes (n = 1788)
-3.3
-3.5 to -3.2

-3.8
-3.9 to -3.7

     No (n = 2188)
-3.3
-3.5 to -3.2
0.157
-3.9
-4.0 to -3.9
0.029
Belief in homeopathy
     Strong (n = 2656)
-3.4
-3.5 to -3.1

-3.9
-4.0 to -3.8

     Weak (n = 1316)
-3.1
-3.3 to -3.0
<0.001
-3.8
-3.9 to -3.7
0.563

† estimations are based on generalised linear models, NRS = numeric rating scale; * per item each subgroup compared to the first listed subgroup

Witt et al. BMC Public Health 2005 5:115   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-5-115