Factorial study of moxibustion in treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

Table 1 An analysis of the general baseline conditions of the patients in each group

	Group 1	Group 2	Group 3	Group 4	P value
n	40	40	40	40
Age (yr)	55	46.5	51.5	52	0.196
Gender					0.330
Male	42.5%	45%	42.5%	45%
Female	57.5%	55%	57.5%	55%
Disease duration (yr)	3	5	4	5	0.300
Disease severity scores	231.7 ± 68.0	221.5 ± 79.2	233.3 ± 73.9	241.5 ± 79.3	0.698

Group 1: 1 cone of moxibustion per treatment, 3 treatments/wk; Group 2: 1 cone of moxibustion per treatment, 6 treatments/wk; Group 3: 2 cones of moxibustion per treatment, 3 treatments/wk; Group 4: 2 cones of moxibustion per treatment, 6 treatments/wk.