Statistical Analysis
Data are expressed as mean SD or median and interquartile
range, or frequencies according variable characteristics.
In non-normally distributed variables, logarithmic transformations
were applied. Changes between the final and initial
evaluations are indicated as delta (D). Differences between
groups were analyzed by Student t-test or Mann-Whitney
U test for independent samples, according to variable characteristics
and distributions. c2 tests were used for differences
in proportion. To analyze differences between basal
and final evaluations, paired-samples t test was used. Rho
Spearman and Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used
to test associations between two types of parameters.
Uni- and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify
risk factors for the development of MVC or AVC;
p #0.05 was considered to be significant in all analyses.
SPSS Windows v.15 was used for all statistical analyses