Table 1

Characteristics of hospitalised nursing home patients and their hospitalisations, stratified by VA/non-VA group

VANon-VA
Patients (n)226243
Age (mean years (SD))70.0 (13.0)82.8 (10.6)*
Male (%)97.3%25.4%*
Hospitalisations (N)331387
Hospitalisations/patient (N/n)1.51.6
Prehospitalisation medications (mean number (SD))6.0 (3.1)6.2 (2.9)
Hospital admission off-hours§ (%)63.4%52.3%†
Hospital length of stay (median days (range))7 (1–296)6 (1–98)‡

  • ↵* p<0.001 for comparison with VA group.

  • ↵† p<0.01 for comparison with VA group.

  • ↵‡ p≤0.05 for comparison with VA group.

  • ↵§ Not during regular business hours (8:00-–18:00 Monday–Friday).

  • VA, US Department of Veterans Affairs.