Table 3 Factors associated with ambulatory versus non-ambulatory status at 30 days (OR and p values shown adjusted for age and sex), bold values are those significant at the p = 0.001 level

 Age (mean +/− SD)

71.5 (18.6)

81.4 (17.5)

 Female

187 (59.4)

124 (59.1)

0.87

0.60–1.23

0.45

 Transport required

115 (36.5)

145 (69.7)

2.84

1.91–4.24

< 0.0001

 Charlson Score > 3

204 (64.8)

188 (89.5)

2.46

1.24–4.89

0.01

 Number of medications> 7

133 (42.2)

108 (51.4)

1.14

0.79–1.64

0.50

 Any care at home

135 (42.9)

144 (70.9)

2.17

1.42–3.31

< 0.0001

 Modified Rankin Scale > 2

149 (47.3)

177 (84.3)

1.76

1.48–2.09

< 0.0001

 Barthel< 20

145 (46.0)

151 (71.9)

1.99

1.30–3.05

0.001

 History of falls

56 (17.8)

86 (41.3)

2.30

1.51–3.50

< 0.0001

 Visual impairment

27 (8.6)

36 (17.1)

1.74

1.01–3.01

0.05

 Hearing impairment

36 (11.4)

48 (22.9)

1.57

0.95–2.57

0.08

 Urinary incontinence^b

45 (14.3)

67 (32.2)

2.03

1.28–3.21

0.002

 Faecal incontinence or stoma

17 (5.4)

40 (19.2)

3.44

1.85–6.41

< 0.0001

 MUST> 0

46 (14.6)

58 (27.6)

1.87

1.19–2.94

0.007

 Braden score < 19

62 (19.7)

115 (54.8)

3.62

2.38–5.50

< 0.0001

 Patient’s perception of any weight loss

41 (13.0)

56 (26.7)

1.74

1.18–2.55

0.005

 Therapy input required

58 (18.4)

117 (55.7)

4.32

2.87–6.51

< 0.0001

 Clinician imp. of frailty

104 (33.0)

140 (67.3)

3.05

2.03–4.58

< 0.0001

 Dementia

25 (7.9)

50 (24.0)

2.65

1.56–4.50

< 0.0001

 Delirium

8 (2.5)

78 (37.1)

17.54

8.17–37.66

< 0.0001

 AMTS < 9

56 (17.8)

104 (49.5)

3.32

2.17–5.08

< 0.0001

 Shortness of breath

130 (41.3)

64 (30.8)

0.65

0.44–0.95

0.025

 Confusion/altered behaviour

19 (6.0)

77 (37.0)

7.04

4.05–12.24

< 0.0001

 Decreased mobility

101 (32.1)

152 (73.1)

4.40

2.93–6.61

< 0.0001

 Increased care needs

74 (23.5)

153 (73.6)

7.61

4.94–11.74

< 0.0001

 Falls

44 (14.0)

62 (29.8)

1.87

1.15–2.94

0.007

 SIRS > 1

75 (23.8)

82 (39.0)

2.31

1.54–3.46

< 0.0001

 NEWS > 4

42 (13.3)

59 (28.1)

2.47

1.56–3.93

< 0.0001

 Any bacterial infection

106 (33.7)

104 (50.0)

2.09

1.43–3.04

< 0.0001

 Clinical dehydration

66 (21.0)

95 (45.7)

2.66

1.79–3.95

< 0.0001

 Anaemia

56 (17.8)

14 (6.7)

0.30

0.16–0.56

< 0.0001

 Electrolyte derangement

27 (8.6)

30 (14.3)

1.45

0.83–2.56

0.19

 Heart failure

33 (10.5)

24 (11.4)

0.78

0.44–1.39

0.41

 AKI

22 (7.0)

29 (13.9)

1.65

1.09–2.51

0.02

 Point-of-care blood test

245 (77.8)

193 (91.9)

3.05

1.71–5.44

< 0.0001

 Laboratory blood test

225 (71.4)

167 (79.5)

1.49

1.00–2.29

0.07

 Any X-ray

155 (49.2)

144 (69.2)

2.06

1.41–3.02

< 0.0001

 Intravenous treatment

161 (51.1)

139 (66.8)

1.74

1.19–2.53

0.004

 Oral medication

133 (42.2)

106 (50.5)

1.39

0.96–2.00

0.08

 Medication stopped

54 (17.1)

62 (29.5)

1.55

1.00–2.40

0.05

 Death < 30 days

6 (1.9)

25 (11.9)

5.60

2.23–14.09

< 0.0001

 Death < 1 year

44 (14.0)

83 (39.5)

3.52

2.27–5.45

< 0.0001