Sex-specific differences in the efficacy of traditional low frequency versus high frequency spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain

Table 6 Comparison of high frequency and low frequency spinal cord stimulator mean differences and 95% confidence intervals at each time point for visual analog scale pain scores, perceived pain reduction and opioid use according to sex. For mean differences, the confidence interval is considered not significant if it crosses zero

	Females		Males
	HF-SCS compared to LF-SCS	p-value		p-value
Visual Analog Scale Pain Score (mean difference with 95% confidence interval)
Baseline	0.15(− 0.8–1.1)	0.67	0.56(− 0.25–1.37)	0.13
Post Implant	0.22(− 0.81–1.25)	0.68	0.34(− 0.52–1.19)	0.52
3 Months Post Implant	−0.78(−1.98–0.42)	0.26	−0.32(− 1.45–0.81)	0.66
6 Months Post Implant	− 0.68(− 1.75–0.4)	0.32	−0.94(− 2.49–0.62)	0.25
12 Months Post Implant	0.07(− 1.34–1.47)	0.74	− 0.15(− 1.93–1.63)	0.99
Perceived Pain Reduction (mean difference with 95% confidence interval)
Baseline	0.18(− 17.24–17.59)	0.96	− 0.09(− 14.07–13.89)	0.96
Post Implant	11.92(−2.64–26.48)	0.12	3.02(−7.82–13.87)	0.45
3 Months Post Implant	12.26(− 1.1–25.62)	0.12	14.18(0.77–27.58)	0.034
6 Months Post Implant	29.65(11.9–47.4)	0.004	19.6(2.88–36.32)	0.027
12 Months Post Implant	14.92(− 5.34–35.18)	0.22	13.33(− 9.13–35.79)	0.23
Morphine Miliequivalents (mean difference with 95% confidence interval)
Baseline	−71.56(−98.48-(− 44.64))	0.003	− 55.09(− 110.62–0.44)	0.053
Post Implant	−78.33(− 114.69-(− 41.96))	0.001	− 73.93(− 113.57--34.29)	0.006
3 Months Post Implant	− 68.76(− 95.46-(− 42.07))	0.006	− 79.46(− 161.82–2.89)	0.19
6 Months Post Implant	−114.94(− 163.2-(− 66.68))	0.01	− 81.34(− 114.95--47.74)	0.01
12 Months Post Implant	−92.94(− 188.39–2.51)	0.064	−53.2(− 136.99–30.59)	0.21

ISSN: 2332-8886