Table 2. Baseline characteristics.
| Characteristic | Control (n = 177) | Intervention (n = 176) | Overall (N = 353) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female, n (%) | 101 (57.1) | 108 (61.4) | 209 (59.2) |
| Age, mean ± SD | 80.6 ± 6.82 | 78.6 ± 7.08 | 79.6 ± 7.01 |
| Marital status, n (%) | |||
| Single | 28 (15.8) | 23 (13.1) | 51 (14.5) |
| Married | 65 (36.7) | 70 (39.8) | 135 (38.2) |
| Divorced | 6 (3.4) | 5 (2.8) | 11 (3.1) |
| Widowed | 78 (44.1) | 75 (42.6) | 153 (43.3) |
| Unknown | 0 | 3 (1.7) | 3 (0.9) |
| Residential status, n (%) | |||
| Lives alone | 79 (44.6) | 74 (42.1) | 153 (43.3) |
| Lives with family | 95 (53.7) | 88 (50.0) | 183 (51.8) |
| Nursing home resident | 1 (0.6) | 6 (3.4) | 7 (2.0) |
| Other* | 2 (1.1) | 8 (4.6) | 10 (2.8) |
| Mode of entry, n (%) | |||
| Ambulance | 86 (48.6) | 85 (48.3) | 171 (48.4) |
| Private transport | 88 (49.7) | 89 (50.6) | 177 (50.1) |
| Public transport | 2 (1.1) | 2 (1.1) | 4 (1.1) |
| Walk-in | 1 (0.6) | 0 | 1 (0.3) |
| Referral, n (%) | |||
| GP services | 71 (40.1) | 58 (33.0) | 129 (36.5) |
| Self-referral | 102 (57.6) | 115 (65.3) | 217 (61.5) |
| Nursing home | 3 (1.7) | 1 (0.6) | 4 (1.1) |
| Walk-in clinic | 1 (0.6) | 1 (0.6) | 2 (0.6) |
| Other** | 0 | 1 (0.6) | 1 (0.3) |
| Index complaint, n (%)*** | |||
| Limb problems | 61 (34.5) | 73 (41.5) | 134 (38.0) |
| Unwell adult | 39 (22.0) | 24 (13.6) | 63 (17.9) |
| Falls | 28 (15.8) | 26 (14.8) | 54 (15.3) |
| Back pain | 15 (8.5) | 22 (12.5) | 37 (10.5) |
| Other† | 34 (19.2) | 31 (17.6) | 65 (18.4) |
| Triage category, n (%) | |||
| 2 | 11 (6.2) | 25 (14.2) | 36 (10.2) |
| 3 | 155 (87.6) | 140 (79.6) | 295 (83.6) |
| 4 | 11 (6.2) | 11 (6.3) | 22 (6.2) |
| Falls in the past 3 months, n (%) | 92 (52.3) | 96 (54.6) | 188 (53.4) |
| Hospitalised in the past 6 months, n (%) | 63 (35.59) | 50 (28.57) | 113 (32.10) |
| Barthel index, mean ± SD | 16.3 ± 3.68 | 16.8 ± 3.13 | 16.6 ± 3.43 |
| EQ-5D-5L, mean ± SD | |||
| Mobility (n = 353) | 2.86 ± 1.35 | 2.64 ± 1.29 | 2.75 ± 1.32 |
| Self-care (n = 353) | 2.54 ± 1.34 | 2.38 ± 1.33 | 2.45 ± 1.34 |
| Usual activities (n = 353) | 2.99 ± 1.27 | 2.80 ± 1.26 | 2.91 ± 1.27 |
| Pain/discomfort (n = 353) | 2.57 ± 1.17 | 2.84 ± 1.16 | 2.70 ± 1.17 |
| Anxiety/depression (n = 351) | 1.60 ± 0.89 | 1.53 ± 0.84 | 1.57 ± 0.86 |
| ISAR score, n (%) | |||
| <2 | 34 (19.2) | 41 (23.3) | 75 (21.3) |
| ≥2 | 143 (80.8) | 135 (76.7) | 278 (78.7) |
| Clinical Frailty Score, n (%) | |||
| 1. Very fit | 4 (2.3) | 8 (4.5) | 12 (3.4) |
| 2. Well | 20 (11.3) | 15 (8.5) | 35 (9.9) |
| 3. Managing well | 34 (19.2) | 48 (27.3) | 82 (23.2) |
| 4. Vulnerable | 43 (24.3) | 51 (28.9) | 94 (26.6) |
| 5. Mildly frail | 36 (20.3) | 31 (17.6) | 67 (18.9) |
| 6. Moderately frail | 35 (19.7) | 19 (10.8) | 54 (15.3) |
| 7. Severely frail | 4 (2.3) | 3 (2.3) | 8 (2.3) |
| 9. Terminally ill | 1 (0.6) | 0 | 1 (0.3) |
| Nutritional status, n (%) | |||
| Malnourished | 16 (9.0) | 11 (6.3) | 27 (7.7) |
| Risk of malnutrition | 58 (32.8) | 41 (23.3) | 99 (28.1) |
| Normal status | 103 (58.2) | 124 (70.5) | 227 (64.3) |
EQ-5D-5L, EuroQoL 5-dimension 5-level; IQR, interquartile range; ISAR, Identification of Seniors at Risk; MTS, Manchester Triage System; SD, Standard deviation.
Triage categories are presented as per MTS.
*“Other” residential status refers to living arrangements not fitting existing categories (e.g., living with others, not family members).
**“Other” source of referral refers to referrals other than those listed.
***Index complaints are presented here from most to least common, independent of MTS category.
†“Other” complaints include abdominal pain; abscess and local infection; chest pain; collapsed adult; diarrhoea and vomiting; facial problems; gastrointestinal bleeds; head injury; headache; major trauma; shortness of breath; urinary problems; and wounds.