Table 1 Comparison of sample characteristics

Age (yrs)

81.3 (7.4)

84.4 (7.2)

0.012*

Sex

0.73

Male

43 (51.2)

28 (48.3)

Female

41 (48.8)

30 (51.7)

Residence

0.36

Home

65 (77.4)

42 (72.4)

Residential home

13 (15.5)

7 (12.1)

Nursing home

3 (3.6)

6 (10.3)

Sheltered accommodation

2 (2.4)

3 (5.2)

Psychiatric unit

1 (1.2)

0

Mobility

0.05*

Independent (>= 50 yards)

40 (50.6)

17 (29.8)

Independent (< 50 yards)

7 (8.9)

15 (26.3)

Walk with stick

13 (16.5)

5 (8.8)

Uses walking frame

13 (16.5)

12 (21.1)

Uses wheel chair

1 (0.7)

2 (1.5)

Hoisted

2 (2.5)

2 (3.5)

Bed bound

3 (3.8)

3 (5.3)

Weight bear/transfer only

0

1 (0.7)

Symptom duration (days)

6.5 (20)

8.3 (25)

0.64

Number of co-morbidities

3.0 (1.5)

2.8 (1.7)

0.64

Effort tolerance (metres)

113 (304)

39 (52)

0.18

Presence of confusion

9 (10.7)

18 (31.0)

0.002*

Systolic BP (mmHg)

134 (31)

129 (29)

0.34

Pulse rate (beats/min)

80 (16)

81 (18)

0.84

C-reactive protein

82 (84)

52 (64)

0.026*

Urea (mmol/L)

10.9 (7.2)

9.3 (5.6)

0.16

Creatinine

139 (76)

131 (77)

0.53

Albumin

31.0 (5.3)

32.3 (4.4)

0.16

Number of medications

6.5 (3.7)

7.4 (3.8)

0.14