Statistical analysis
Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the
Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 25; Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). The
Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk tests were conducted to determine
the normal distribution of data. Student’s t-test was conducted to
compare the continuous parametric variables. The Mann–Whitney U-test
was conducted to compare variables with non-normal distribution.
Chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test was conducted to analyze the
categorical variables. Categorical variables were expressed as numbers
(%). Normally distributed variables were expressed as mean ± standard
deviation values. Non-parametric continuous variables were expressed as
median values (interquartile range). The difference with p <
0.05 was considered statistically significant.