Participant characteristics
| Patient ID | Sex | Age, years | Hospital visits in 12 months before interview, n | Interviewed alone | Lives alone | Paid carers | National Statistics Socioeconomic classification17 | Comorbidities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient-1 | F | 71 | 0 | No (husband present and contributed) | No | No | 2 | Hypothyroidism, type 2 diabetes, previous breast cancer, depression, vitreous detachment in both eyes, hypertension |
| Patient-2 | M | 90 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 3 | COPD, atrial fibrillation |
| Patient-3 | M | 73 | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6 | History of strokes, Parkinson’s disease |
| Patient-4 | F | 76 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 7 | Osteoporosis, vertebral wedge fractures, coronary stent, leaky heart valve, kidney problem |
| Patient-5 | F | 91 | 0 | Yes | Yes | No | 1 | Type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, hypothyroidism |
| Patient-6 | M | 96 | 12 | No (granddaughter present and contributed) | Yes | Yes | 7 | Unstable angina, history of multiple pulmonary embolisms, enlarged prostate, haemorrhoids, diverticulitis, asthma, osteoarthritis, poor eyesight (after cataract procedure), chronic kidney disease stage 3, ischaemic heart disease, postural hypotension, benign paroxysmal vertigo |
| Patient-7 | M | 78 | 0 | No (wife present and contributed) | No | No | 6 | Type 2 diabetes, gout, arthritis, sleep apnoea |
| Patient-8 | M | 89 | 0 | No (wife present and contributed) | No | No | 1 | Venous leg ulcers, hypothyroidism, high cholesterol |
| Patient-9 | M | 89 | 1 | Yes | No | No | 1 | Angina, stroke, prone to falls, arthritis |
| Patient-10 | M | 64 | 0 | No (carer present and contributed) | Yes | Yes | 8 | Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, osteoporosis, irritable bowel syndrome, hypothyroidism |
| Patient-11 | F | 87 | 0 | Yes | Yes | No | 2 | COPD |
| Patient-12 | F | 58 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 3 | Breast cancer |
| Patient-13 | M | 85 | 0 | No (wife present and contributed) | No | Yes | 2 | Prostate cancer, atrial fibrillation |
| Patient-14 | F | 63 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 5 | COPD, hypothyroidism |
| Patient-15 | F | 75 | 5 | Yes | No | No | 7 | COPD |
| Patient-16 | M | 78 | 0 | No (wife present and contributed) | No | No | 7 | Ulcerative colitis, COPD, tremors, high cholesterol |
| Patient-17 | M | 80 | 0 | No (wife present and contributed) | No | No | 1 | Bronchiectasis, heart condition |
| Patient-18 | M | 79 | 12 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 | Bowel cancer, kidney failure, heart condition, COPD |
| Patient-19 | M | 79 | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 | Heart condition, stroke |
| Patient-20 | F | 80 | 8 | Yes | Yes | No | 2 | Recovering from pneumonia, stroke, breathlessness |
| Patient-21 | F | 58 | 5 | No (husband present and contributed) | No | No | 5 | Asthma, reflux, sleep apnoea, heart problems, prone to anaphylaxis, prone to hyperventilation |
COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.