Table 2.
Baseline characteristics of the population
| Variable | Intervention group (CGA, unit) N |
Control group (conventional care) N |
p-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years, mean (SD) | 206 | 85.7 (5.3) | 202 | 85.6 (5.4) | 0.850 |
| Gender, female, n (%) | 206 | 122 (59) | 202 | 108 (53) | 0.241 |
| Frailty screening score, mean (SD) | 206 | 3.5 (0.9) | 202 | 3.4 (0.9) | 0.149 |
| Charlson’s index score, mean (SD) | 206 | 7.4 (2.1) | 202 | 6.2 (1.5) | <0.001 |
| Living alone, n (%) | 206 | 139 (67) | 202 | 132 (65) | 0.649 |
| Own living without home-help service, n (%) | 206 | 60 (29) | 202 | 77 (38) | 0.055 |
| Handgrip strength (kg), mean (SD) | 184 | 18.8 (7.2) | 153 | 18.0 (7.9) | 0.330 |
| 6-MWT (m), mean (SD) | 147 | 146 (103.4) | 95 | 160 (100.0) | 0.287 |
| TUG (sec), mean (SD) | 153 | 30.0 (23.2) | 120 | 37.4 (28.6) | 0.020 |
| Reported reasons for admission, n (%) | |||||
| Dyspnea | 206 | 67 (32) | 202 | 65 (32) | |
| Worsened general condition/tiredness | 206 | 48 (23) | 202 | 43 (21) | |
| Pain | 206 | 29 (14) | 202 | 24 (12) | |
| Fever/infection | 206 | 28 (14) | 202 | 40 (20) | |
| Vertigo/falling | 206 | 27 (13) | 202 | 30 (15) | |
| Others | 206 | 52 (25) | 202 | 35 (17) | |
Notes: The baseline characteristics of the population divided by group, intervention group, and control group, and the main reasons that led to admission. Continuous data are presented as the mean ±1 SD. Nominal data are presented as number (%). Copyright © 2017. Dove Medical Press. Adapted from Ekerstad N, Karlson BW, Dahlin Ivanoff S, et al. Is the acute care of frail elderly patients in a comprehensive geriatric assessment unit superior to conventional acute medical care? Clin Interv Aging. 2017;12:1–9.40
Abbreviations: CGA, Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment; SD, standard deviation; 6-MWT, 6-minute walk test; TUG, timed up-and-go test.