Clinical characteristics of the intake home care population
| Characteristic | % (no.) of patients | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| All patients n = 228 679 | Patients aged < 65 yr n = 64 543 | Patients aged ≥ 65 yr n = 164 136 | |
| Impaired in cognitive skills* | 20.8 (47 645) | 10.0 (6503) | 25.0 (41 142) |
| Comprehension, sometimes or rarely or never understands message* | 9.5 (21 827) | 4.2 (2755) | 11.6 (19 072) |
| Help needed with bathing* | 54.8 (125 488) | 39.2 (25 314) | 61.0 (100 174) |
| Help needed with personal hygiene* | 24.6 (56 393) | 15.9 (10 291) | 26.2 (43 102) |
| Help needed with dressing lower body* | 38.3 (87 549) | 27.4 (17 714) | 42.5 (69 835) |
| Help needed with locomotion, with or without gait aids* | 25.0 (57 116) | 16.9 (10 911) | 28.1 (46 205) |
| Help with meal preparation* | 65.8 (150 526) | 53.1 (34 277) | 70.8 (116 249) |
| Help with housework* | 77.9 (178 119) | 66.7 (43 090) | 82.2 (135 029) |
| Help with managing medications* | 34.1 (78 003) | 19.8 (12 790) | 39.7 (65 213) |
| Help with managing stairs* | 56.1 (128 366) | 41.6 (26 861) | 61.8 (101 505) |
| Shortness of breath* | 39.9 (91 337) | 31.4 (20 301) | 43.1 (70 736) |
| Poor self-reported health* | 9.7 (22 170) | 12.0 (7737) | 8.8 (14 433) |
| Unstable health patterns, at rest or when performing activities* | 52.8 (120 887) | 45.0 (29 011) | 56.0 (91 876) |
| Recent decline in cognitive status* | 14.4 (32 907) | 5.6 (3636) | 17.8 (29 271) |
| Recent decline in functional status* | 58.1 (132 878) | 49.1 (31 707) | 61.6 (101 171) |
| Sad or depressed mood* | 15.5 (35 465) | 19.0 (12 252) | 14.1 (23 213) |
| Recent fall(s)* | 33.8 (77 352) | 23.5 (15 174) | 37.9 (62 178) |
| Dizziness* | 16.3 (37 421) | 16.8 (10 881) | 16.1 (26 540) |
| Peripheral edema* | 32.1 (73 440) | 29.4 (19 021) | 33.1 (54 419) |
| Any pain, moderate or severe* | 50.1 (114 691) | 57.6 (37 168) | 47.2 (77 523) |
| Appetite loss | 14.0 (32 054) | 14.1 (9149) | 14.0 (22 905) |
| Weight loss* | 11.9 (27 205) | 11.4 (7378) | 12.0 (19 827) |
| Family or friends feeling overwhelmed* | 18.0 (41 328) | 10.5 (6803) | 21.0 (34 525) |
↵* Significant difference between age groups (p < 0.001).