Patient characteristics in the study cohort, categorised by appropriateness of PICC placement
| Overall | Appropriate | Inappropriate | Uncertain | |
| PICC placements, n | 3479 | 1848 | 573 | 1058 |
| Age, mean (SD) | 65 (18) | 65 (19) | 70 (16) | 62 (19) |
| Female gender, n (%) | 1612 (46) | 880 (48) | 292 (51) | 440 (42) |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index score 0, n (%) | 1277 (37) | 656 (35) | 99 (17) | 522 (50) |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index score 1, n (%) | 596 (17) | 303 (16) | 151 (26) | 142 (13) |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index score 2, n (%) | 707 (20) | 377 (20) | 103 (18) | 227 (21) |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index score 3 or greater, n (%) | 899 (26) | 512 (28) | 220 (38) | 167 (16) |
| Hospitalised in previous 30 days, n (%) | 552 (16) | 286 (16) | 95 (17) | 171 (16) |
| Laboratory-based Acute Physiology Score, mean (SD) | 27 (22) | 29 (22) | 35 (24) | 21 (18) |
| Admitted on weekend, n (%) | 915 (26) | 488 (26) | 165 (29) | 262 (25) |
| Admitted at night, n (%) | 2701 (78) | 1417 (77) | 439 (77) | 845 (80) |
PICC placements were categorised according to the Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheter (MAGIC) appropriateness criteria. Four PICC placements could not be categorised due to missing data. These were reported with the uncertain cohort.
PICC, peripherally inserted central catheter.