Table 2

Characterisation of the multimorbid and non-multimorbid populations

OverallMultimorbidityp Value
Yes (%)No
Number (%)411304 (74.0)107 (26.0)
Haemoglobin (≤129 g/L)183 (44.5)146 (79.8)37 (20.20.02
 Albumin, (≤35 g/L)171 (41.6)137 (80.1)34 (19.9)0.02
Polypharmacy (yes %)279 (67.9)240 (86.0)39 (14.0)<0.0001
Frailty (Canadian Study of Health and Ageing scale)
 Very fit73 (17.9)32 (43.8)41 (56.2)<0.0001
 Well52 (12.8)28 (53.8)24 (46.2)Test for trend
Well, with comorbidity89 (21.8)72 (80.9)17 (19.1)
Apparently vulnerable81 (19.8)65 (80.2)16 (19.8)
 Mildly frail56 (13.7)49 (87.5)7 (12.5)
 Moderately frail41 (10.1)39 (95.1)2 (14.9)
 Severely frail16 (3.9)16 (100)0
Operation (yes %)79 (19.2)55 (69.6)24 (30.4)0.33
 Minor or intermediate surgery24 (34.3)7 (29.2)17 (70.8)0.03
 Major or more severe surgery46 (65.7)41 (91.3)4 (8.7)
Missing9
Length of hospital stay (days, 95% CI)9.3 (8.1 to 10.5)9.1 (7.5 to 10.4)9.8 (7.2 to 12.5)0.29
 Readmission to hospital (yes %)82 (19.9)64 (78.0)18 (22.0)0.35
 Death within 30 days (yes %)20 (4.9)14 (70.0)6 (30.0)0.68
 Death within 90 days (yes %)36 (8.8)28 (77.8)8 (22.2)0.60