Assessment variables included incontinence episode frequency, the Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire results, fixed volume (400 mL) stress pad test results, and the Patient Global Impression of Improvement and of Severity question results.
Given the relatively high intraclass-correlations of variables and the large number of measures within lessons and within individuals, this procedure appears suitable for a reliable assessment of variables including their interactions (Bryk and Raudenbush 1992; Lüdtke et al. 2006).
Features that differentiate our work from previous cross-sectional studies include the high prevalence of infectious disease (malaria and HIV) and anaemia in our cohort, robust external validation of retinopathy grading at an accredited reading centre, and a comprehensive assessment of systemic variables including HbA1c, urine albumin creatinine ratio and haemoglobin level.
Incomplete assessment of potential confounding variables, including physical activity, also needs to be taken into account.
The strengths of this study were the use of a validated assay for thiamine and phosphorylated metabolites, a comprehensive assessment of thiamine-related variables (including thiamine transporter content of erythrocyte membranes, urinary excretion, ClThiamine and FEThiamine) and investigation of the association of thiamine-related variables with markers of metabolic and vascular dysfunction.
Our data adds considerably to current understanding of patterns of service utilisation among older people in LMIC, with respect to the range of services assessed (using a standard protocol in all sites), the detailed assessment of health status, and the comprehensive assessment of predisposing and enabling variables, including the impact of health insurance coverage.
Data were organized based on: 1) general demographics and history; b) feeding-related variables at multiple points; c) speech-related variables, including assessments and swallowing studies; d) respiratory variables at multiple points; and, e) discharge data.
The comparable results between groups for the other secondary efficacy variables (including assessments of pain interference with physical activity and social function, performance status, and cognition) support similarity in the treatment efficacy.
Moreover, as part of the LOGIN study, all the participants in our study will be assessed for a shared core set of variables, including a comprehensive assessment of neuromodulators (plasma nerve-growth-factor, plasma endocannabinoid and lipid levels) and the functional and structural changes in functional neuroimaging (fMRI), before and after treatment (for further details, see [ 43]).
Their recommendations include the use of the Fracture Index for risk assessment and analyses of other variables including use of corticosteroid therapy for more than 3 months, impaired vision, low calcium intake, low physical activity, dementia, alcohol consumption of greater than 2 drinks per day and estrogen deficiency before 45 years of age.
