Baseline characteristics of patients according to type of care
| Variable | General ward (n=8618) | Stroke unit (n=33 074) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years (mean/median) | 73.6/75.8 | 73.3/75.5 | 0.11 |
| Male gender (%) | 4180 (48.5) | 15 958 (48.2) | 0.67 |
| Living alone (%) | 3066 (35.6) | 11 877 (35.9) | 0.57 |
| Current atrial fibrillation at admission (%) | 1579 (18.3) | 7326 (22.2) | <0.0001 |
| Independent preadmission (%) | 6598 (76.6) | 25 736 (77.8) | 0.01 |
| Lift both arms (%) | 5317 (61.7) | 19 274 (58.3) | <0.001 |
| Can walk (%) | 3924 (45.5) | 11 357 (34.3) | <0.0001 |
| Orientated (%) | 5003 (58.1) | 19 138 (57.9) | 0.75 |
| Can talk (%) | 6071 (70.4) | 23 390 (70.7) | 0.62 |
| Most deprived (%) | 1437 (16.7) | 7892 (23.9) | <0.0001 |
| Least deprived (%) | 1147 (13.3) | 4493 (13.6) | 0.51 |
| Length of stay, days (mean/median) | 15.5/6 | 33.3/15 | <0.0001 |
| Admitted to stroke unit 0–1 days postadmission (%) | – | 23 582 (71.3) | – |
| Ischaemic stroke (%) | 7395 (85.8) | 29 478 (89.1) | <0.0001 |