Research Article
Inability to Walk Predicts Death among Adult Patients in Hospitals in Malawi
Table 2
In-hospital mortality by walking ability and NEWS.
| | Variable | N (%) | Mortality
n (%) | OR | 95% CI | P value |
| | All | 1094 | 86 (7.8%) | - | - | - |
| | Walking status | Able to walk independently | 651 (59.5 %) | 16 (2.5 %) | ref | ref | ref | | Unable to walk | 443 (40.5 %) | 70 (15.8 %) | 7.4 | 4.3-13.0 | <0.001 | | Able to walk independently | 651 (59.5 %) | 16 (2.5 %) | ref | ref | ref | | Able to walk with assistance | 214 (19.6%) | 30 (14.0%) | 6.5 | 3.5-12.1 | <0.001 | | Unable to walk | 220 (20.1%) | 39 (17.7%) | 8.6 | 4.7-15.7 | <0.001 | | Refused to walk | 9 (0.8%) | 1 (11.1%) | 5.0 | 0.6-42.0 | 0.142 |
| | NEWS | NEWS≤6 | 737(67.4%/ | 25 (3.4%) | ref | ref | ref | | NEWS>6 | 357(32.6%) | 61 (17.1%) | 5.9 | 3.6-9.5 | <0.001 | | NEWS≤3 | 164 (15.0%) | 4 (2.4%) | ref | ref | ref | | NEWS>3 | 930 (85.0%) | 82 (8.8%) | 3.9 | 1.4-10.7 | 0.009 |
| | Combined | Able to walk and/or NEWS≤6 | 895 (81.8%) | 33 (3.7%) | ref | ref | ref | | Unable to walk and NEWS>6 | 199 (18.2%) | 53 (26.6%) | 9.5 | 5.9-15.2 | <0.001 | | Able to walk and NEWS≤6 | 493 (45.1%) | 8 (1.6%) | ref | ref | ref | | Unable to walk or NEWS>6 | 601 (54.9%) | 78 (13.0%) | 9.0 | 4.3-19.0 | <0.001 |
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Variable generated by combining those able to walk with assistance, unable to walk and refused to walk NEWS National Early Warning Score OR Odds Ratio |
