Table 1 Comparison of select sample characteristics for Israel (N = 206) and Denmark (N = 113)

Age M ± SD

77.0 ± 7.1

80.7 ± 7.7

 < 0.001

Sex: Female N(%)

96(46.6%)

77(68.1%)

 < 0.001

Marital status: Married N(%)

109(52.9%)

34(30.1%)

 < 0.001

Community care assistance N(%)

66(32.0%)

66(58.4%)

 < 0.001

Community mobility: Goes outside 7 times per week or more N(%)

88(42.7%)

55(48.7%)

0.306

Uses walker N(%)

18(8.7%)

34(30.1%)

 < 0.001

Cognitive impairment N(%)

35(17.0%)

21(18.6%)

0.720

Number of comorbidities M ± SD

1.7 ± 1.3

1.0 ± 0.8

 < 0.001

Independence in ADL (Barthel 0–20) M ± SD

17.4 ± 3.8

18.5 ± 2.2

0.004

Mobility status (DEMMI 0–100) M ± SD

61.1 ± 18.4

66.3 ± 19.6

0.019

BMI < 20 (risk of malnutrition) N (%)

13(6.3%)

9(8.0%)

0.577

Pain on admission (0–5) M ± SD

1.9 ± 1.8

0.7 ± 0.6

 < 0.001

Length of stay in hospital M ± SD

6.3 ± 5.9

5.6 ± 4.7

0.283