Table 2 Characteristics of people with ALS and their care partners at baseline
PEOPLE WITH ALS (N = 31) | |||
Sex | |||
Male | 22 | 71.0% | |
Female | 9 | 29.0% | |
Age (years) | |||
Mean (SD) | 65.7 (9.3) | ||
Range | 44–80 | ||
Ethnic background | |||
White | 24 | 77.4% | |
Asian | 4 | 12.9% | |
Aboriginal | 1 | 3.2% | |
Black | 1 | 3.2% | |
Age of symptom onset (years) | |||
Mean (SD) | 62.3 (9.5) | ||
Range | 42–78 | ||
Time from diagnosis to baseline (months) | |||
Mean (SD) | 28.9 (33.6) | ||
Range | 2–120 | ||
Measures and Scales | Mean | St Dev | Range |
ALSFRS-R | 31.5 | 7.0 | 8–44 |
ECAS (total) | 101.6 | 14.6 | 61–121 |
ECAS (ALS-specific) | 80.3 | 12.1 | 46–97 |
ECAS (ALS non-specific) | 21.3 | 4.3 | 13–30 |
CARE PARTNERS (N = 31) | |||
Sex | |||
Male | 9 | 29.0% | |
Female | 22 | 71.0% | |
Age (years) | |||
Mean | 64.1 (SD 10.2) | ||
Range | 42–81 | ||
Ethnicity | |||
White | 28 | 90.3% | |
Asian | 3 | 9.7% | |
Currently employed | |||
Yes | 7 | 22.6% | |
No | 24 | 77.4% | |
Hours of care provided per week | |||
Mean | 65.3 | ||
Range | 0–168 | ||
Receiving caregiving assistance | |||
Formal (i.e., paid caregiver) | 7 | 22.6% | |
Informal (i.e., friends or extended family) | 13 | 42.0% | |