Comparison 1. Liberal versus restrictive threshold.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 30‐day mortality	5	2683	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.67, 1.26]
2 60‐day mortality	3	2283	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.08 [0.80, 1.44]
3 Longer‐term mortality: at 90, 120 and 365 days	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 90‐day mortality	2	484	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.80 [0.55, 1.16]
3.2 120‐day mortality	1	200	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.18 [0.56, 2.51]
3.3 365‐day mortality	1	200	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.04 [0.65, 1.65]
4 Inability to walk 10 feet (3 m; or across a room) without human assistance	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1 At 30 days	1	1995	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.93 [0.84, 1.03]
4.2 At 60 days	2	2083	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.00 [0.87, 1.15]
5 Regaining functional independence during hospitalisation	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
6 Poor mobility/physical ability (at 10 days)	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
6.1 Unable to walk (CAS)	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
6.2 Bedridden (CAS)	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
7 Mean change in mobility scores (score 0 to 9: best mobility)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
8 Thromboembolism (in hospital)	4	2416	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.15 [0.56, 2.37]
9 Stroke (inpatient)	4	2416	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.40 [0.85, 6.79]
10 Wound infection (in hospital)	3	2332	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.61 [0.77, 3.35]
11 Cardiovascular events	4		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
11.1 Myocardial infarction	3	2217	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.59 [0.36, 0.96]
11.2 Congestive heart failure (new diagnosis)	3	2332	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.77 [0.48, 1.23]
12 Respiratory infections (namely pneumonia)	4	2416	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.35 [0.95, 1.92]
13 Lower Extremity Physical Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (0 to 11: total dependency)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
13.1 30 days	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
13.2 60 days	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
14 Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (higher scores = higher dependency)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
14.1 30 days	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
14.2 60 days	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
15 FACIT‐Fatigue score (higher scores = more energy)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
15.1 30 days	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
15.2 60 days	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
16 Dependency (based on Modified Barthel Index) at 10 days	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
16.1 Substantially or completely dependent	1	284	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.05 [0.92, 1.20]
16.2 Completely dependent	1	284	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.94 [0.69, 1.27]
17 Length of stay in hospital (days)	4		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
17.1 USA	2	1304	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.27 [‐0.66, 0.12]
17.2 Canada	1	791	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.67 [‐1.98, 0.64]
17.3 Denmark	1	107	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.80 [‐3.23, 6.83]
17.4 UK	1	200	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.50 [‐7.81, 4.81]