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Table 1 Health characteristics, autonomy assessment and home services of elderly patients visiting EDs according to professional home services’ presence

From: Emergency department outcome of elderly patients assisted by professional home services, the EPIGER study

Characteristics

All patients

N = 1168

N(%)

No services

N = 800

N(%)

Services

N = 368

N(%)

P-value*

Age, y.o median (Q1;Q3)

86 (83;89)

85 (82;88)

88 (85;91)

< 0.001

Sex ratio

0.72

0.75

0.65

0.310

Medical history:

 None

38(3)

31(4)

7(2)

0.077

 Cardio Vascular risk factors

686(59)

467(58)

219(60)

0.714

 Cardio Vascular

772(66)

504(63)

268(73)

0.001

 Respiratory

198(17)

122(15)

76(21)

0.022

 Neurologic

272(23)

152(19)

120(33)

< 0.001

 Psychiatric

89(8)

54(7)

35(10)

0.099

 Trauma

91(8)

58(7)

33(9)

0.309

 Hematology/oncology

212(18)

136(17)

76(21)

0.132

 Urology

192(16)

130(16)

62(17)

0.798

 Gastro enterology

189(16)

117(15)

72(20)

0.033

  ≥ 2 categories

496(42)

293(37)

203(55)

< 0.001

Usual medication

 None

47(4)

40(5)

7(2)

0.012

  ≥ 3 daily medications

689(59)

448(56)

241(65)

0.002

 Hypertension

744(64)

509(64)

235(64)

0.938

 Antiplatelets

424(36)

285(36)

139(38)

0.478

 Anticoagulant

273(23)

166(21)

107(29)

0.002

 Psychotropics

264(23)

158(20)

106(29)

0.001

Cognitive impairment

308(26)

156(20)

152(41)

< 0.001

Relatives present in the ED

421(36)

304(38)

117(32)

0.040

Registered personal directive

18(2)

12(2)

6(2)

0.775

Autonomy assessment

 Living alone

556(48)

346(43)

210(57)

< 0.001

 Living as couple

446(38)

340(43)

106(29)

< 0.001

 Helping spouse

136(12)

97(12)

39(11)

0.252

Knaus classification

 A

437(37)

385(48)

52(14)

< 0.001

 B

451(39)

281(35)

170(46)

< 0.001

 C

230(20)

97(12)

133(36)

< 0.001

 D

4(0.3)

0(0)

4(1)

0.003

Autonomy assessment:

 ADLa, median (Q1;Q3)

1(0;4)

0(0;1)

3(1;6)

< 0.001

 Severe disability (ADLa ≥ 10)

66(6)

29(4)

37(10)

< 0.001

 Loss of autonomy (ADLa ≥ 6)

194(17)

73(9)

121(33)

< 0.001

 Early disability (ADLa ≤ 4)

877(75)

674(84)

203(55)

< 0.001

 Disability for intimate tasks

136(12)

41(5)

95(26)

< 0.001

 Walking disability

123(11)

57(7)

66(18)

< 0.001

Home services

Type of services

 Professional

368(32)

0(0)

368(100)

 

 Relatives

621(53)

418(52)

203(55)

0.021

 Cleaning only

181(16)

181(23)

0(0)

 

 Technical help

220(19)

77(10)

143(39)

< 0.001

Tasks dedicated to caregivers:

 Cleaning

599(51)

298(37)

301(82)

< 0.001

 Groceries

369(32)

128(16)

241(66)

< 0.001

 Bathing

342(29)

81(10)

261(71)

< 0.001

 Clothing

232(20)

55(7)

177(48)

< 0.001

 Walking

79(7)

16(2)

63(17)

< 0.001

 Eating

182(16)

50(6)

132(36)

< 0.001

 Delivering meals

138(12)

41(5)

97(26)

< 0.001

 Telealarm

119(10)

43(5)

76(21)

< 0.001

 Walking device

344(29)

159(20)

185(50)

< 0.001

 Nurse care

131(11)

54(7)

77(21)

< 0.001

  1. *P-value when comparing patients benefitting from professional home care and those who do not. a ADL Activity of Daily Living. Score ranging from 0 (full autonomy) to 12 (bedridden)