Table 1

Characteristics of the sample (N=834) by HHC referral groups

CharacteristicsOverall sample
(Total N=834)
Non-HHC referred
(n=713)
HHC referred
(n=121)
P value
Demographic and socioeconomic status
 Age, mean (SD)71.0 (67–76)70.0 (67–76)72.0 (68–79)0.010
 Female, % (n)40.5 (338)39.1 (279)48.8 (59) 0.046
 Caucasian/white, % (n)90.8 (757)91.4 (652)86.8 (105)0.149
 Education: ≤high school graduation, % (n)40 (333)38.4 (274)48.7 (59) 0.048
 Unmarried/not living with partner, % (n)32.3 (269)30.7 (219)41.3 (50) 0.021
 Annual household income:
 less than US$25 000, % (n)
24.5 (204)21.2 (151)43.8 (53) <0.001
 Difficulty paying monthly bills:
 somewhat or very difficult, % (n)
31.7 (265)28.5 (203)51.3 (62) <0.001
 Health literacy (3-item BHLS):
 (possible range: 3–15): limited (<9), % (n)
17.5 (146)15.0 (107)32.2 (39) <0.001
 Social support (ESSI)
 (possible range: 8–34), mean (SD)
31.0 (28–33)31.0 (28–33)31.0 (26–33)0.050
Health history
 Primary diagnosis at index hospitalisation <0.001
  ACS, % (n)64.9 (541)69.7 (497)36.4 (44)
  ADHF, % (n)28.4 (237)24.8 (177)49.6 (60)
  Both, % (n)6.7 (56)5.5 (39)14.0 (17)
 Comorbidity (Elixhauser Index), median (Q1–Q3)12.0 (5–20)11.0 (4–18)20.0 (12–25) <0.001
 Depressive symptoms (PHQ-8)
 (possible range 0–24), % (n)
<0.001
 None/minimal to mild (0–9)72.1 (601)74 (528)60.3 (73)
 Moderate to severe (10–24)27.9 (233)26 (185)39.7 (48)
 Cognitive functioning (SPMSQ)
 (possible range 0–10), % (n)
<0.001
 Intact cognitive functioning (0–2)90.8 (757)92.4 (659)81.0 (98)
 Mild/moderate cognitive impairment (3–7)9.2 (77)7.6 (54)19 (23)
 Severe cognitive impairment (8–10)000
 Outpatient visits (past 12 months), median (Q1–Q3)6.0 (4–12)6.0 (4–12)7.0 (4–12)0.050
 ED visits (past 12 months), median (Q1–Q3)0.0 (0–1)0.0 (0–1)1.0 (0–2) <0.001
 Hospitalisations (past 12 months), median (Q1–Q3)0.0 (0–2)0.0 (0–1)1.0 (0–3) <0.001
 Length of hospital stay (days), median (Q1–Q3)3.0 (2–5)3.0 (2–5)6.0 (4–9) <0.001
  • BHLS, Brief Health Literacy Screen; ED, emergency department; ESSI, ENRICHD  Social  Support Inventory; HHC, home healthcare; PHQ-8, Patient Health Questionnaire-8; SPMSQ, Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire.