Table 3 Aspects of process of care for patients by admitting physician.
| Respiratory physician (n = 2216) [median age 70] | General physician (n = 3711) [median age 71] | CoE physician (n = 1186) [median age 76] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | n | % | n | OR* (95% CI) | % | n | OR* (95% CI) | |
| Accepted by an early discharge scheme | 17 | 368/2116 | 15 | 523/3587 | 0.84 (0.64 to 1.10) | 11 | 125/1130 | 0.63 (0.45 to 0.88) |
| NOT seen by respiratory nurse or physician at all | 3 | 75/2159 | 36 | 1290/3623 | 15.1 (10.9 to 20.9) | 48 | 547/1131 | 23.0 (15.7 to 33.6) |
| NO gases on admission | 11 | 250/2167 | 17 | 598/3605 | 1.43 (1.18 to 1.69) | 16 | 190/1150 | 1.23 (0.94 to 1.59) |
| NO FEV1 within last 5 years documented | 37 | 815 | 46 | 1705 | 1.37 (1.15 to 1.64) | 55 | 657 | 1.69 (1.35 to 2.13) |
| NO respiratory rate documented | 19 | 431 | 19 | 691 | 0.91 (0.76 to 1.09) | 20 | 232 | 0.94 (0.73 to 1.21) |
| NO systemic corticosteroids for >24 hours as inpatient | 13 | 287/2144 | 17 | 617/3605 | 1.27 (1.05 to 1.54) | 19 | 217/1153 | 1.25 (0.95 to 1.61) |
| Receiving ventilatory support if pH <7.35 | 44 | 251/569 | 36 | 279/781 | 0.71 (0.56 to 0.90) | 26 | 61/235 | 0.48 (0.33 to 0.70) |
*Odds relative to respiratory physician group. Odds ratios (OR) were adjusted for the case mix variables in table 2 including age group using standard logistic regression methods adapted for hospital clustering.