Table 2.

Multivariate analysis of variables explaining planned admission rates (145 practices)

Variable	IRR (95% CI)	% change in number of admission with 1% change in variable (%)	Change in planned admissions count for average size practice for 1 unit change in predictor	P-value
2006–07
% of practice aged ≥65 years	1.03 (1.01, 1.05)	3	22.9	0.0003
% of practice with white ethnicity	1.01 (1.0, 1.01)	1	7.6	<0.0001
% of practice male	0.98 (0.96, 1.01)	−2	−15.3	0.08
% Able to see specific GP	0.99 (0.98, 0.999)	−1	−7.6	0.005
% response rate to access survey	1.01 (1.0, 1.02)	1	7.6	0.04
List size	0.99999 (0.999, 1.0)	−0.0001	−0.00076	0.08
Deprivation score	1.003 (0.99, 1.01)	0.3	2.3	0.14
Distance of practice to hospital	0.99 (0.98, 1.01)	−1	−7.6	0.19
Coronary heart disease prevalence	1.03 (0.95, 1.11)	3	22.9	0.51
QOF clinical points	1.001 (0.99, 1.01)	0.1	0.76	0.29
QOF organizational points	0.999 (0.99, 1.01)	−0.1	−0.76	0.38
2007–08
% of practice aged ≥65 years	1.02 (1.003, 1.04)	2	15.3	0.02
% of practice with white ethnicity	1.004 (1.002, 1.007)	0.4	3.1	<0.0001
% of practice male	0.97 (0.95, 0.99)	−3	−22.9	0.01
% Able to see specific GP	0.996 (0.992, 0.999)	−0.4	−3.1	0.008
% response rate to access survey	1.01 (1.003, 1.02)	1	7.6	0.005
List size	0.99999 (0.9998, 1.0)	−0.0001	−0.00076	0.03
Deprivation score	1.001 (0.99, 1.01)	0.1	0.76	0.59
Distance of practice to hospital	0.99 (0.99, 1.01)	−1	−7.6	0.32
Coronary heart disease prevalence	1.07 (1.0, 1.15)	7	53	0.049
QOF clinical points	0.999 (0.99, 1.001)	−0.1	−0.76	0.42
QOF organizational points	0.999 (0.99, 1.001)	−0.1	−0.76	0.65

IRR, incident rate ratio.

In 2007–08 the mean planned admission count was 764. A 2% increase in admissions would thus entail an extra 15.3 admissions.