Table 1

Characteristics of the study sample at their index admission

	All participants (N=32 832)
	N	Per cent
Demographic characteristics
Sex
Male	16 812	51.2
Female	16 020	48.8
Age
45–59	9666	29.4
60–79	16 624	50.6
80+	6540	19.9
Country of birth
Australia	25 001	76.2
Other	7448	22.7
Unknown	383	1.2
Highest education level
No school	5196	15.8
Year 10 or equivalent	7894	24.0
Year 12 or equivalent	2975	9.1
Trade	4270	13.0
Certificate	6109	18.6
University degree	5662	17.3
Unknown	726	2.2
Household income ($, per annum)
<20 000	9077	27.7
20 000–<50 000	8223	25.1
500 000–<70 000	2560	7.8
70 000+	5042	15.4
Not disclosed	6003	18.3
Missing	1927	5.9
Functional status
No limitation	4915	15.0
Mild limitation	6011	18.3
Moderate limitation	8701	26.5
Severe limitation	10 121	30.8
Missing	3084	9.4
Admission characteristics
Admission type
Surgical	15 464	47.1
Other	1439	4.4
Medical	15 929	48.5
Emergency status
Emergency	13 484	41.1
Planned	17 544	53.4
Other	1803	5.5
Hospital of admission
Hospital type
Public	18 734	57.1
Private	14 096	42.9
Hospital remoteness
Major city	19 754	60.2
Inner regional	8424	25.7
Outer regional	4137	12.6
Remote/very remote	363	1.1
Hospital depth of coding
1—least comprehensive	1629	5.0
2	8803	26.8
3	11 543	35.2
4—most comprehensive	10 857	33.1
Hospital peer group
Principal referral	6329	19.3
Major	11 052	33.7
District	6862	20.8
Community	7018	21.4
Other	1571	4.8