Table 5

Characteristics of decedents with unanticipated and anticipated deaths

 Unanticipated death
N=20
Anticipated death
N=407
p Value
GenderFemale8 (40.0%)198 (48.6%)0.45
Age at admissionMean (SD)70.25 (18.13)74.15 (16.23)0.30
Admission typeElective2 (10.0%)11 (2.7%)<0.01
Emergency11 (55.0%)330 (81.1%)
Urgent5 (25.0%)57 (14.0%)
Same day admits2 (10.0%)2 (0.5%)
Newborn admission0 (0.0%)7 (1.7%)
*Probability of death in hospitalMedian (IQR)0.08 (0.02–018)0.30 (0.15–0.47)<0.001
Top10 admitting servicesGeneral medicine4 (20.0%)157 (38.6%)
Intensive care0 (0.0%)71 (17.4%)
Oncology3 (15.0%)36 (8.8%)
General surgery4 (20.0%)17 (4.2%)
Neurology0 (0.0%)16 (3.9%)
Radiotherapy0 (0.0%)15 (3.7%)
Family medicine0 (0.0%)14 (3.4%)
Malignant haematology0 (0.0%)14 (3.4%)
Orthopaedics2 (10.0%)10 (2.5%)
Respirology0 (0.0%)11 (2.7%)
Others7 (35.0%)46 (11.3%)
Number of admission in the past 6 months015 (75.0%)251 (61.7%)0.62
13 (15.0%)89 (21.9%)
20 (0.0%)36 (8.8%)
≥32 (10.0%)31 (7.6%)
Total length of stay (days)Median (IQR)19.00 (3.50–37.00)7.00 (3.00–16.00)0.01
  • *Calculated using a validated risk score.21