Table 1. Baseline Demographic and Clinical Characteristics and Reasons for Admission by Study Group.
| Variable | No. (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention (n = 3242) | Control (n = 3238) | |
| Demographic Data | ||
| Male | 1766 (54.5) | 1766 (54.5) |
| Age, mean (SD), y | 70.5 (17.3) | 70.6 (17.3) |
| Age group, y | ||
| 0-30 | 126 (3.9) | 123 (3.8) |
| 31-60 | 630 (19.4) | 632 (19.5) |
| 61-80 | 1452 (44.8) | 1453 (44.9) |
| >80 | 1034 (31.9) | 1030 (31.8) |
| Clinical Status | ||
| Blood pressure, mean (SD), mm Hg | ||
| Systolic | 126 (16) | 125 (16) |
| Diastolic | 68 (9) | 68 (9) |
| BMI, mean (SD)a | 25.90 (5.56) | 25.64 (5.32) |
| Medications for chronic diseases, mean (SD), No. | 9.16 (6.08) | 9.01 (5.85) |
| ICD-9 Chapter and Category | ||
| Infectious diseases | ||
| Sepsis | 82 (2.5) | 77 (2.4) |
| Others | 48 (1.5) | 47 (1.5) |
| Total | 130 (4.0) | 124 (3.8) |
| Malignant neoplasia | ||
| Lung cancer | 44 (1.4) | 63 (1.9) |
| Metastatic to respiratory and digestive system | 47 (1.4) | 25 (0.8) |
| Others | 159 (4.9) | 202 (6.2) |
| Total | 250 (7.7) | 290 (9.0) |
| Endocrine system | ||
| Electrolyte alterations | 20 (0.6) | 33 (1.0) |
| Type 1 and type 2 diabetes | 6 (0.2) | 7 (0.2) |
| Others | 20 (0.6) | 14 (0.4) |
| Total | 46 (1.4) | 54 (1.7) |
| Hematological | 27 (0.8) | 41 (1.3) |
| Psychiatric | 39 (1.2) | 37 (1.1) |
| Neurological | 67 (2.1) | 66 (2.0) |
| Heart diseases | ||
| Heart failure | 336 (10.4) | 345 (10.7) |
| Myocardial ischemia | 188 (5.8) | 183 (5.7) |
| Arrhythmias | 90 (2.8) | 91 (2.8) |
| Angina pectoris | 31 (1.0) | 27 (0.8) |
| Others | 47 (1.4) | 44 (1.4) |
| Total | 692 (21.3) | 690 (21.3) |
| Vascular | ||
| Stroke | 136 (4.2) | 133 (4.1) |
| Complications of stroke | 37 (1.1) | 28 (0.9) |
| Brain hemorrhage | 24 (0.7) | 19 (0.6) |
| Others | 56 (1.7) | 60 (1.9) |
| Total | 253 (7.8) | 240 (7.4) |
| Respiratory | ||
| Pneumonia | 235 (7.2) | 244 (7.5) |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 50 (1.5) | 55 (1.7) |
| Pleurisy | 34 (1.0) | 38 (1.2) |
| Bronchitis | 42 (1.3) | 37 (1.1) |
| Asthma | 13 (0.4) | 10 (0.3) |
| Calcified pulmonary nodules | 235 (7.2) | 225 (6.9) |
| Others | 59 (1.8) | 46 (1.4) |
| Total | 668 (20.6) | 655 (20.2) |
| Gastrointestinal | ||
| Liver cirrhosis | 60 (1.9) | 46 (1.4) |
| Gallstones | 28 (0.9) | 23 (0.7) |
| Intestinal occlusion | 18 (0.6) | 26 (0.8) |
| Pancreatic diseases | 21 (0.6) | 22 (0.7) |
| Others | 105 (3.2) | 124 (3.8) |
| Total | 232 (7.2) | 241 (7.4) |
| Renal | ||
| Acute renal insufficiency | 56 (1.7) | 66 (2.0) |
| Chronic renal insufficiency | 23 (0.7) | 35 (1.1) |
| Stones | 16 (0.5) | 18 (0.6) |
| Infections of lower urinary tract | 55 (1.7) | 55 (1.7) |
| Others | 54 (1.7) | 49 (1.5) |
| Total | 204 (6.3) | 223 (6.9) |
| Pregnancy | 46 (1.4) | 40 (1.2) |
| Dermatological | 25 (0.8) | 22 (0.7) |
| Rheumatologic and orthopedic | ||
| Connective tissue diseases | 29 (0.9) | 30 (0.9) |
| Osteoarthrosis | 28 (0.9) | 20 (0.6) |
| Femoral neck fracture | 56 (1.7) | 82 (2.5) |
| Others | 155 (4.8) | 136 (4.2) |
| Total | 268 (8.3) | 268 (8.3) |
| Others | 141 (4.3) | 114 (3.5) |
| Missing | 154 (4.8) | 133 (4.1) |
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared); ICD-9, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision.
a
Data available for 2641 of 6480 patients (40.8%).