Table 3

Comparison of baseline parameters in two study groups


Study Group





TCM group N = 41 Mean (sd)
Placebo group N = 40 Mean (sd)
P-value

Symptoms (score range 0: none – 4: very severe)



     Day cough
1.6 (0.8)
1.5 (0.4)
0.500
     Night cough
1.7 (1.1)
1.6 (1.0)
0.635
     Sputum
1.5 (1.2)
1.2 (1.1)
0.228
     Nasal congestion
1.6 (1.2)
1.2 (1.1)
0.895
     Running nose
1.7 (1.2)
1.8 (1.4)
0.679
     Sneezing
1.1 (0.9)
1.3 (1.3)
0.541
     Hoarseness
1.7 (1.0)
1.6 (1.2)
0.536
     Sore throat
2 (1.1)
2 (1.2)
0.842
     Muscle pain
1.4 (1.2)
1.0 (1.1)
0.064
     Chest pain
0.6 (0.9)
0.5 (0.8)
0.752
     Headache
1.5 (1.3)
1.2 (1.4)
0.232
     Total score (sum of above 11 symptoms: 0–44)
16.6 (6.7)
15.3 (7.0)
0.383

QoLs (score range)



     Physical domain (8–56)
4.7 (0.9)
4.5 (0.9)
0.278
     Psychological domain (7–49)
4.9 (1.2)
4.9 (1.1)
0.955
     Social domain (4–28)
4.8 (1.2)
4.7 (1.2)
0.636
     Total score (sum of above 3 domains: 3–21)
14.4 (3.0)
14.0 (2.9)
0.616

WCW et al. Cough 2006 2:5   doi:10.1186/1745-9974-2-5