Statistical analysis
Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS for Windows (Version 23.0) and significance was inferred at p value < 0.05. Descriptive statistics were calculated as means, standard deviation (SD), median, interquartile range (IQR), frequencies and percentages. Comparisons between the two study groups were done using independent samples t-test for quantitative normally distributed variables, and Mann-Whitney test for non-normally distributed and ordinal. Fisher exact and chi-square tests were used for comparing qualitative nominal variables. Comparisons between different timepoints within the same group were done using Wilcoxon signed rank (two time points only), and Friedman test (3 timepoints) followed by multiple pairwise comparisons using Bonferroni adjusted significance level. Intention-to-treat analysis was used in analyzing all subjects included in the current study.