Table 1: Baseline characteristics of 656 patients with peripherally inserted central catheters at The Ottawa Hospital
CharacteristicNo. (%) of patients*
Age, mean ± SD (range), yr62 ± 15 (17-97)
Female sex329 (50.2)
Ordering service
    Medicine217 (33.1)
    Oncology186 (28.4)
    Surgery128 (19.5)
    Malignant hematology63 (9.6)
    Cardiology39 (5.9)
    Intensive care unit23 (3.5)
Reason for insertion
    Antibiotics341 (52)
    Chemotherapy229 (35)
    Parenteral nutrition37 (6)
    Other49 (7)

Note: SD = standard deviation.

*Except where noted otherwise.