Skip to main content

Table 3 Factors potentially associated with hospital-based service utilisation, decedents aged ≥70 years, NSW, 2007 (n = 34,556)

From: Health-services utilisation amongst older persons during the last year of life: a population-based study

 

%

Unadjusted OR (95% CI)

Adjusted OR (95% CI)a

Adjusted p-valuea

≥1 Hospital episode

82

   

Male vs Female

87 vs 78

1.89 (1.78–2.00)

1.58 (1.48–1.67)

< 0.0001

Age (OR per 5-year increase in age)b

 

0.74 (0.72–0.75)

0.82 (0.81–0.84)*

< 0.0001

 70–79

88

2.77 (2.57–2.99)

1.83 (1.69–1.99)

 

 80–89

84

2.02 (1.90–2.15)

1.67 (1.56–1.79)

 

 90+

72

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Socioeconomic quintile (OR per increase in quintile)

 

0.95 (0.93–0.97)

0.95 (0.92–0.97)*

< 0.0001

 Most disadvantaged quintile

85

1.28 (1.17–1.40)

1.30 (1.17–1.44)

 

 Quintile 2

83

1.09 (1.00–1.19)

1.07 (0.97–1.18)

 

 Quintile 3

82

1.03 (0.94–1.12)

1.02 (0.93–1.12)

 

 Quintile 4

82

1.00 (0.92–1.10)

0.96 (0.87–1.05)

 

 Least disadvantaged quintile

82

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Place of residence: Other vs Major cities

82 vs 83

0.95 (0.90–1.01)

0.87 (0.82–0.94)

0.0002

Cancer vs Non-cancer death

95 vs 78

5.16 (4.67–5.69)

4.29 (3.88–4.74)

< 0.0001

> 3 hospital episodes

21

   

Male vs Female

25 vs 17

1.66 (1.58–1.75)

1.38 (1.31–1.46)

< 0.0001

Age (OR per 5-year increase in ageb

 

0.73 (0.72–0.75)

0.79 (0.78–0.81)*

< 0.0001

 70–79

29

3.32 (3.06–3.61)

2.42 (2.22–2.64)

 

 80–89

20

2.07 (1.92–2.25)

1.77 (1.63–1.92)

 

 90+

11

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Socioeconomic quintile (OR per increase in quintile)

 

1.00 (0.98–1.02)

1.01 (0.99–1.04)*

0.24

 Most disadvantaged quintile

22

1.01 (0.93–1.10)

0.96 (0.88–1.06)

 

 Quintile 2

21

0.97 (0.89–1.05)

0.90 (0.82–0.98)

 

 Quintile 3

19

0.86 (0.79–0.93)

0.82 (0.75–0.89)

 

 Quintile 4

21

0.96 (0.88–1.05)

0.91 (0.84–1.00)

 

 Least disadvantaged quintile

22

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Place of residence: Other vs Major cities

20 vs 21

0.95 (0.90–1.00)

0.95 (0.89–1.02)

0.16

Cancer vs Non-cancer death

35 vs 16

2.78 (2.63–2.94)

2.33 (2.20–2.47)

< 0.0001

Prolonged single hospitalisation (> 30 days)

21

   

Male vs Female

22 vs 20

1.16 (1.10–1.22)

1.09 (1.03–1.15)

0.002

Age (OR per 5-year increase in age)b

 

0.93 (0.91–0.95)

0.96 (0.94–0.98)*

< 0.0001

 70–79

22

1.34 (1.25–1.45)

1.18 (1.09–1.28)

 

 80–89

22

1.32 (1.23–1.41)

1.24 (1.16–1.33)

 

 90+

17

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Socioeconomic quintile (OR per increase in quintile)

 

1.02 (1.00–1.04)

1.04 (1.02–1.06)*

0.0003

 Most disadvantaged quintile

20

0.91 (0.84–0.99)

0.85 (0.78–0.94)

 

 Quintile 2

20

0.93 (0.86–1.01)

0.86 (0.79–0.94)

 

 Quintile 3

21

1.00 (0.92–1.08)

0.96 (0.88–1.04)

 

 Quintile 4

20

0.93 (0.85–1.02)

0.91 (0.84–1.00)

 

 Least disadvantaged quintile

22

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

0.002

Place of residence: Other vs Major cities

21 vs 20

1.06 (1.00–1.12)

1.11 (1.04–1.18)

0.002

Cancer vs Non-cancer death

26 vs 19

1.51 (1.43–1.60)

1.45 (1.37–1.54)

< 0.0001

> 3 months total hospitalisation

7

   

Male vs Female

7 vs 6

1.11 (1.02–1.21)

1.02 (0.94–1.11)

0.64

Age (OR per 5-year increase in age)b

 

0.86 (0.84–0.89)

0.87 (0.84–0.89)*

< 0.0001

 70–79

8

1.77 (1.56–2.01)

1.72 (1.51–1.96)

 

 80–89

7

1.45 (1.29–1.64)

1.43 (1.27–1.62)

 

 90+

5

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Socioeconomic quintile (OR per increase in quintile)

 

0.93 (0.90–0.95)

0.99 (0.95–1.02)*

0.52

 Most disadvantaged quintile

8

1.35 (1.17–1.55)

1.07 (0.92–1.24)

 

 Quintile 2

7

1.23 (1.07–1.41)

0.98 (0.85–1.14)

 

 Quintile 3

7

1.18 (1.03–1.35)

1.03 (0.89–1.19)

 

 Quintile 4

6

1.03 (0.88–1.19)

0.97 (0.84–1.13)

 

 Least disadvantaged quintile

6

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

0.67

Place of residence: Other vs Major cities

8 vs 6

1.46 (1.34–1.59)

1.41 (1.28–1.56)

< 0.0001

Cancer vs Non-cancer death

7 vs 6

1.16 (1.05–1.27)

1.05 (0.96–1.16)

0.29

ICU admission

9

   

Male vs Female

11 vs 8

1.57 (1.46–1.68)

1.29 (1.19–1.39)

< 0.0001

Age (OR per 5-year increase in age)b

 

0.65 (0.63–0.67)

0.65 (0.63–0.67)*

< 0.0001

 70–79

16

6.03 (5.24–6.94)

6.05 (5.24–6.99)

 

 80–89

9

3.10 (2.70–3.57)

3.06 (2.66–3.53)

 

 90+

3

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Socioeconomic quintile (OR per increase in quintile)

 

0.94 (0.91–0.96)

0.94 (0.91–0.96)*

< 0.0001

 Most disadvantaged quintile

13

1.29 (1.16–1.44)

1.30 (1.15–1.46)

 

 Quintile 2

9

0.83 (0.74–0.94)

0.84 (0.74–0.95)

 

 Quintile 3

8

0.81 (0.72–0.90)

0.80 (0.71–0.90)

 

 Quintile 4

8

0.77 (0.68–0.88)

0.73 (0.64–0.82)

 

 Least disadvantaged quintile

10

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Place of residence: Other vs Major cities

8 vs 10

0.81 (0.74–0.87)

0.72 (0.66–0.79)

< 0.0001

Cancer vs Non-cancer death

9 vs 9

0.98 (0.90–1.07)

0.72 (0.66–0.79)

< 0.0001

≥1 ED presentationc

79

   

Male vs Female

83 vs 76

1.56 (1.46–1.67)

1.42 (1.32–1.53)

< 0.0001

Age (OR per 5-year increase in ageb

 

0.83 (0.81–0.85)

0.88 (0.86–0.90)*

< 0.0001

 70–79

84

1.94 (1.77–2.12)

1.55 (1.41–1.71)

 

 80–89

80

1.54 (1.42–1.67)

1.37 (1.27–1.49)

 

 90+

73

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Socioeconomic quintile (OR per increase in quintile)

 

0.79 (0.77–0.81)

0.80 (0.78–0.82)*

< 0.0001

 Most disadvantaged quintile

87

2.68 (2.38–3.02)

2.53 (2.25–2.85)

 

 Quintile 2

84

2.02 (1.82–2.24)

1.91 (1.71–2.12)

 

 Quintile 3

83

1.95 (1.76–2.17)

1.90 (1.71–2.12)

 

 Quintile 4

80

1.57 (1.44–1.71)

1.53 (1.40–1.67)

 

 Least disadvantaged quintile

72

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Place of residence: Other vs Major cities

82 vs 79

1.16 (1.00–1.35)

1.02 (0.88–1.20)

0.75

Cancer vs Non-cancer death

83 vs 78

1.33 (1.23–1.44)

1.17 (1.07–1.27)

0.0003

> 3 ED presentationsc

17

   

Male vs Female

20 vs 14

1.46 (1.35–1.56)

1.34 (1.24–1.44)

< 0.0001

Age (OR per 5-year increase in age)b

 

0.85 (0.83–0.87)

0.88 (0.86–0.91)*

< 0.0001

 70–79

20

1.91 (1.72–2.13)

1.63 (1.45–1.82)

 

 80–89

17

1.54 (1.40–1.71)

1.41 (1.27–1.56)

 

 90+

12

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Socioeconomic quintile (OR per increase in quintile)

 

0.84 (0.82–0.87)

0.86 (0.84–0.88)*

< 0.0001

 Most disadvantaged quintile

22

2.02 (1.80–2.26)

1.90 (1.69–2.13)

 

 Quintile 2

21

1.90 (1.71–2.13)

1.77 (1.58–1.98)

 

 Quintile 3

16

1.41 (1.25–1.59)

1.37 (1.22–1.55)

 

 Quintile 4

17

1.45 (1.31–1.61)

1.40 (1.26–1.56)

 

 Least disadvantaged quintile

12

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Place of residence: Other vs Major cities

21 vs 17

1.32 (1.14–1.52)

1.15 (0.99–1.33)

0.07

Cancer vs Non-cancer death

18 vs 16

1.17 (1.08–1.27)

1.04 (0.96–1.13)

0.33

Palliative care input: broader definitiond,e

21

   

Male vs Female

24 vs 18

1.39 (1.32–1.47)

1.04 (0.98–1.10)

0.21

Age (OR per 5-year increase in age)b

 

0.72 (0.71–0.73)

0.85 (0.83–0.86)*

< 0.0001

 70–79

30

3.37 (3.11–3.65)

1.84 (1.68–2.02)

 

 80–89

19

1.86 (1.72–2.01)

1.37 (1.25–1.49)

 

 90+

11

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Socioeconomic quintile (OR per increase in quintile)

 

1.05 (1.03–1.07)

1.02 (1.00–1.05)*

0.05

 Most disadvantaged quintile

22

0.93 (0.85–1.01)

1.05 (0.95–1.16)

 

 Quintile 2

19

0.77 (0.71–0.84)

0.73 (0.66–0.80)

 

 Quintile 3

18

0.75 (0.69–0.81)

0.73 (0.66–0.80)

 

 Quintile 4

24

1.03 (0.95–1.12)

1.01 (0.92–1.11)

 

 Least disadvantaged quintile

23

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Place of residence: Other vs Major cities

18 vs 22

0.74 (0.70–0.78)

0.73 (0.68–0.79)

< 0.0001

Cancer vs Non-cancer death

54 vs 10

11.13 (10.49–11.81)

10.24 (9.63–10.89)

< 0.0001

Death in inpatient setting

53

   

Male vs Female

59 vs 49

1.55 (1.48–1.61)

1.31 (1.25–1.37)

< 0.0001

Age (OR per 5-year increase in age)b

 

0.75 (0.74–0.76)

0.80 (0.79–0.82)*

< 0.0001

 70–79

64

2.83 (2.66–3.00)

2.17 (2.04–2.31)

 

 80–89

54

1.82 (1.73–1.92)

1.60 (1.51–1.69)

 

 90+

39

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Socioeconomic quintile (OR per increase in quintile)

 

0.92 (0.90–0.93)

0.93 (0.92–0.95)*

< 0.0001

 Most disadvantaged quintile

59

1.41 (1.31–1.51)

1.34 (1.24–1.45)

 

 Quintile 2

56

1.25 (1.17–1.34)

1.17 (1.09–1.26)

 

 Quintile 3

52

1.08 (1.01–1.15)

1.03 (0.96–1.11)

 

 Quintile 4

51

1.06 (0.99–1.13)

1.01 (0.94–1.09)

 

 Least disadvantaged quintile

50

1.00 (reference)

1.00 (reference)

< 0.0001

Place of residence: Other vs Major cities

55 vs 53

1.08 (1.04–1.13)

0.99 (0.94–1.04)

0.62

Cancer vs Non-cancer death

68 vs 48

2.31 (2.20–2.44)

1.96 (1.86–2.06)

< 0.0001

  1. OR odds ratio, CI confidence interval, ICU intensive care unit, ED emergency department
  2. aAdjusted for sex, age group, socioeconomic quintile (category), place of residence and cause of death, unless otherwise noted
  3. bThe differences in healthcare utilisation associated with age were similar when age was analysed by age group or by 5-year age increments
  4. cAmong the 21,544 people resident in the geographical area where recording of ED presentations was complete
  5. dPatients already captured in restricted definition, plus those referred to palliative care specialist teams or facilities, availing of a palliative care bed, and/or where service category/service-related group/diagnosis code indicated palliative care
  6. eResults were similar for restricted definition of palliative care. (Restricted definition includes persons recorded as undergoing review by a specialist palliative care team or who were admitted to one of five stand-alone hospice/inpatient palliative care facilities in NSW)
  7. *Adjusted for sex, 5-year increase in age, socioeconomic quintile (ordinal scale 1–5), place of residence and cause of death
Back to article page

BMC Geriatrics

ISSN: 1471-2318

Contact us