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