Question

. Based on Table 1, how well did the authors' control of confounding work?

Based on Table 1, how well did the authors’ control of confounding work?

A. Very well; there were no statistically significant differences between the Digoxin and Placebo groups

B. Moderately well; it would have been better if they had matched on primary care of CHF

C. Poorly; there were several significant differences showing up in Table 1

D. It’s impossible to judge based on Table 1

TABLE 1. BASE-LINE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STUDY PATIENTS ACCORDING TO TREATMENT GROUP. DIGOXIN N-3397) 63.4 11.0 28.6+8.9 PLACEBC (N= 3403) Age (yr)-mean ±SD Ejection fraction- mean +SD Median duration of CHFmo 63.5108 28.4+8.9 % of patients Female sex Nonwhite race Age >70 yr Method of assessing ejection 22.2 22.5 26.7 65.0 29.5 64.2 30.0 Contrast angiography Cardiothoracic ratio >0.55 NYHA class 34.6 34.4 13.7 53.3 30.7 2.2 13.0 54.5 30.5 IV No. of signs or symptoms of CHFt 0 8.6 81.2 80.1 Medical history 65.3 26.4 28.6 45.8 44.6 Previous myocardial infarction Current angina 64.7 27.1 28.3 45.0 44.1 Hypertension Previous digoxin use cause of CHF 70.8 29.0 15.5 8.0 Ischemic 70.4 29.3 Hypertensive 9.2 6.0 Othert Concomitant medications Diuretics ACE inhibitors 81.2 94.1 42.1 82.2 94.8 43.1 1.5 Other vasodilators$ Daily dose of study medication prescribed 0.125 mg 0.250 mg 0.375 mg 0.500 mg 17.5 70.6 10.3 174 70.0 11.3 CHF denotes congestive heart failure, NYHA New York Heart Associ ation, and ACE angiotensin-converting enzyme. Because of rounding, not all percentages total 100 tThe clinical signs or symptoms studied included rales, elevated jugular venous pressure, peripheral edema, dyspnea at rest or on exertion, orthop- nea, limitation of activity, S, gallop, and radiologic evidence of pulmonary congestion tThis category included valvular and alcohol-related causes of congestive heart failure. SThese drugs included clonidine hydrochloride, doxazosin mesylate, flose- quinan, labetalol hydrochloride, minoxidil, prazosin hydrochloride, and ter- azosin

D. It's impossible to judge based on Table

Answer 1

Answer should be A because from the table we do not encounter any statistically significant differences differe the patients for Digoxin group and Placebo effect. The differences sre mutually less than one.