Statistical analysis
Categorical variables were expressed as absolute number and percentage
(%). Continuous variables were expressed as mean and (±) standard
deviation (SD) or as median accompanied by interquartile range (IQR), as
appropriate after checking for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk’s test.
Categorical variables were compared with the use of the Pearson’s
Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate. Continuous
variables were compared with the use of one-way ANOVA test or
Kruskal-Wallis test, as appropriate according to data distribution.
A two-sided P value of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate
statistical significance. Data were analysed with the use of SPSS
software version 27 (IBM Statistics, Chicago, Illinois).