Patient characteristics: data of patients treated in practices employing at least one HCA compared with practices not employing HCAs (non-HCA)
| HCA | Non-HCA | P value | |
| No of patients | 397 493 | 463 730 | |
| Male (N, %) | 174 415 (43.9) | 200 775 (43.2) | <0.0001 |
| Age | 56.9±18.5 | 58.4±18.1 | <0.0001 |
| Charlson Index | 1.37±2.0 | 1.38±1.98 | <0.0001 |
| Care level (N) | <0.0001 | ||
| No care: | 378 919 | 442 024 | |
| I | 11 186 | 13 165 | |
| II | 5771 | 6765 | |
| III | 1593 | 1751 | |
| IV | 24 | 25 |
Continuous values are presented as mean±SD.
HCA, healthcare assistant.