Table 1.
Baseline sample characteristics
| Key characteristics, n (%) unless otherwise stated |
No MRH (n=699) | MRH (possible, probable, definite) (n=413) | MRH definite requiring healthcare (n=119) |
| Age, mean (SD), years | 80.9 (7.9) | 81.7 (7.4) | 82.6 (6.5) |
| Female* | 383 (54.8) | 268 (64.9) | 81 (68.1) |
| Length of hospital stay, median (IQR), days | 6 (3–13) | 8 (4–14) | 7 (3–14) |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index | |||
| 0–1 | 342 (48.9) | 198 (47.9) | 56 (47.1) |
| ≥2 | 357 (51.1) | 215 (52.1) | 63 (52.9) |
| Renal impairment† (eGFR <60) | 260 (40.0) | 170 (44.4) | 59 (52.7) |
| Barthel score*, median (IQR) | 18 (13–20) | 17 (13–19) | 17 (13–19) |
| Hand grip‡, median (IQR), kg | |||
| Female | 13.5 (10.0–18.3) | 14.0 (10.0–18.0) | 14.0 (10.0–18.0) |
| Male | 24.0 (19.0–31.0) | 24.0 (17.8–31.0) | 25.0 (18.5–30.0) |
| Number of medicines*, mean (SD) | 8.9 (4.1) | 10.0 (4.0) | 10.4 (4.1) |
| Number of new medicines, mean (SD)* | 3.1 (2.3) | 3.5 (2.3) | 3.4 (2.2) |
| Past adverse drug reaction *§ | 202 (29.1) | 145 (35.4) | 50 (42.4) |
| Medication compliance aid (eg, dosette box) |
224 (32.0) | 146 (35.4) | 50 (42.0) |
| Living alone after discharge*¶ | 322 (46.2) | 228 (55.5) | 69 (58.0) |
*Significant difference between ‘MRH’ and ‘no MRH’ groups: female, p=0.001; Barthel score, p=0.012; number of medicines, p<0.001; past adverse drug reaction, p=0.037; living alone after discharge, p=0.003.
†Information not available for 79 participants.
‡Information not available for 117 participants.
§Information not available for 9 participants.
¶Information not available for 4 participants.
eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate mL/min/1.73 m2; MRH, medication-related harm.