Skip to main content

Table 2 Factors with evidence to support a relation to length of stay

From: Factors associated with length of stay in care homes: a systematic review of international literature

Predictors

Lowest ratio

Highest ratio

Strong evidence

Moderate evidence

Weak evidence

Care home characteristics—nursing

1.14 (1.01–1.30)

HR (CI)

1.85 (1.50–2.23)

OR (CI)

X

  

Clinical intervention—oxygen therapy

1.6 (1.4–1.8)

HR (CI)

2.61 (1.30–5.21)

OR (CI)

X

  

Shortness of breath

1.5 (1.3–1.9)

HR (CI)

4.88

OR

X

  

Age

0.70 (0.53–0.93)

OR (CI)

3.25 (2.39–4.41)

HR (CI)

 

X

 

Cancer

1.36 (1.21–1.53)

HR (CI)

374 (174–804)

OR (CI)

 

X

 

Contact with primary care—number of contacts

1.65 (1.43–1.92)

HR (CI)

1.90 (1.2–3.2)

HR (CI)

 

X

 

Gender—being femalea

0.49 (0.36–0.66)

HR (CI)

2.10 (1.22–3.60)

RR

 

X

 

General health

0.609 (0.416–0.891)

HR (CI)

16.18 (11.41–22.95)

HR (CI)

 

X

 

Mobility

0.93 (0.84–1.02)

RR (CI)

4.6 (2.3–12.7)

OR (CI)

 

X

 

Nutrition—low BMI or malnutrition

0.81 (0.57–1.16)

HR (CI)

2.26 (1.56–3.28)

RR (CI)

 

X

 

Physical functioning

0.23 (0.10–0.50)

HR (CI)

8.0 (2.2–47.8)

OR (CI)

 

X

 

Pressure ulcers

1.03 (1.00–1.06)

HR (CI)

2.7 (1.37–5.1)

OR (CI)

 

X

 

Admission source—hospital

0.81 (0.43–1.52)

HR (CI)

2.02 (1.2–3.3)

HR (CI)

  

X

Behaviour problems

0.90 (0.78–1.05)

RR (CI)

3.95

OR

  

X

Biochemical indicators

0.19 (0.10–0.36)

HR (CI)

3.207 (1.023–0.060)

OR (CI)

  

X

Cognitive function

0.8

OR

10.5 (1.02–1.08)

HR (CI)

  

X

Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease

0.48 (0.52–1.05)

OR (CI)

1.96 (1.86–2.06)

IRR (CI)

  

X

Depression

0.91 (0.82–1.01)

RR (CI)

1.26 (1.00–1.58)

HR (CI)

  

X

Diabetes

0.99 (0.88–1.12)

HR (CI)

3.789 (1.266–1.336)

OR (CI)

  

X

Ethnicity—whitea

0.69 (0.57–0.85)

RR (CI)

0.89 (0.76–1.06)

RR (CI)

  

X

Falls and fracturesa

0.40 (0.21–0.74)

OR (CI)

1.2

OR

  

X

Feeding—appetite

1.39 (1.37–1.41)

OR (CI)

2.16 (1.59–2.93)

HR (CI)

  

X

Feeding—feeding tube or help with feeding or diet

0.53 (0.31–0.90)

HR (CI)

4.05 (1.40–1.73)

HR (CI)

  

X

Hallucinations, delusions, wandering or delirium

0.74 (0.77–1.15)

RR (CI)

2.97 (1.50–5.88)

RR

  

X

Incontinence or catheter use

0.93

RR

3.2 (1.46–7.2)

OR (CI)

  

X

Marital status—not married a

0.90 (0.78–1.05)

RR (CI)

1.31 (1.09–1.59)

RR (CI)

  

X

Respiratory disorders/COPD

1.17 (1.04–1.33)

HR (CI)

3.4 (1.3–8.8)

OR (CI)

  

X

Stroke

0.79 (0.33–0.70)

OR (CI)

1.79 (1.68–1.90)

IRR (CI)

  

X

Vaccinationsa

0.439 (0.208–0.924)

HR (CI)

0.47 (0.28–0.78)

OR (CI)

  

X

Vision impairment

0.94 (0.84–1.05)

RR (CI)

1.38 (1.20–1.57)

RR (CI)

  

X

  1. Combined results of evidence rating for each factor identified: strong, moderate, weak and inconclusive evidence
  2. aAssociated with longer length of stay