3.4. Statistical Analysis
For normally distributed data, the mean and SD are reported; median and IQR are reported for non-normally distributed data. The paired-samples t-test and related-samples Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to detect differences among patients within the same group (i.e., from baseline to Week 12). Data from the intervention and control groups were compared using Pearson’s chi-square test. Between-group differences were analyzed using the independent-samples t-test and the independent-samples median test. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test, adjusted for age, sex, and the baseline value of the parameter being evaluated, was used to compare the post-intervention final results. A 