Characteristics of the cohort, according to whether admissions involved NBT. Values are numbers (percentage of cohort) unless indicated otherwise
| Characteristics | Admissions without NBT (n=728) | Admissions involving NBT (n=103) | Total (n=831) |
| Hospital | |||
| A | 301 (41%) | 20 (19%) | 321 (39%) |
| B | 248 (34%) | 36 (35%) | 284 (34%) |
| C | 179 (25%) | 47 (46%) | 226 (27%) |
| Personal characteristics | |||
| Age (mean, SD) | 71.7 (16.1) | 76.4 (17.1) | 72.3 (18.1) |
| Male | 411 (56%) | 53 (51%) | 464 (56%) |
| Non-English-speaking background | 52 (7%) | 12 (12%) | 64 (8%) |
| Married/de facto | 382 (52%) | 50 (49%) | 432 (52%) |
| Alcohol use* | 118 (16%) | 19 (18%) | 137 (16%) |
| Smoker | 89 (12%) | 9 (9%) | 98 (12%) |
| Is a carer | 32 (4%) | 9 (9%) | 41 (5%) |
| Aged care resident | 99 (14%) | 12 (12%) | 111 (13%) |
| Activities of daily living | |||
| Dependent | 111 (15%) | 22 (21%) | 133 (16%) |
| Partially dependent | 287 (39%) | 40 (39%) | 327 (39%) |
| Independent | 330 (45%) | 41 (40%) | 371 (45%) |
| Exercise tolerance | |||
| No limits | 137 (19%) | 11 (11%) | 148 (18%) |
| Ordinary activities result in fatigue/symptoms | 227 (31%) | 30 (29%) | 257 (31%) |
| Less than ordinary activities result in fatigue/symptoms | 288 (40%) | 50 (49%) | 338 (41%) |
| Bed bound | 42 (6%) | 9 (9%) | 51 (6%) |
| Missing | 34 (5%) | 3 (3%) | 37 (4%) |
| Previous admissions over the past 3 years | |||
| 0 | 202 (28%) | 34 (33%) | 236 (28%) |
| 1 | 124 (17%) | 20 (19%) | 144 (17%) |
| 2 | 95 (13%) | 12 (12%) | 107 (13%) |
| three or more | 307 (42%) | 37 (36%) | 344 (41%) |
| End of life planning | |||
| Advance care planning in place | 239 (33%) | 43 (42%) | 282 (34%) |
| Advance health directive | 56 (8%) | 7 (7%) | 63 (8%) |
| Enduring power of attorney | 186 (26%) | 41 (40%) | 227 (27%) |
| Palliative care review | 34 (5%) | 4 (4%) | 38 (5%) |
| Acute resuscitation plan | 21 (3%) | 5 (5%) | 26 (3%) |
| Not-for-resuscitation order | 17 (2%) | 4 (4%) | 21 (3%) |
| Admission characteristics | |||
| Length of stay (mean, SD) | 9.6 (15.7) | 21.2 (22.8) | 11.1 (17.2) |
| Inter-regional transfer | 174 (24%) | 34 (33%) | 208 (25%) |
| Admitted to ICU | 181 (25%) | 33 (32%) | 214 (26%) |
| Death in ICU | 145 (20%) | 18 (17%) | 163 (20%) |
| Conflict in medical team | 10 (1%) | 11 (11%) | 21 (3%) |
| Conflict involving family | 20 (3%) | 18 (17%) | 38 (5%) |
| Decision not to treat or to withdraw treatment | 641 (88%) | 91 (88%) | 732 (88%) |
*Positive responses refer to any level of alcohol consumption.
ICU, intensive care unit; NBT, non-beneficial treatment.