Table 1

Characteristics of the study population

CharacteristicStatistic/level
Age (years)n20 891
Mean (SD)62.4 (19.7)
Median (IQR)64 (48, 79)
SexMissing193
Male10 201 (49.3%)
Female10 497 (50.7%)
EthnicityMissing/prefer not to say4198
UK/Irish/other white14 243 (85.3%)
Asian1044 (6.3%)
Black/African/Caribbean640 (3.8%)
Mixed/multiple ethnic groups247 (1.5%)
Other519 (3.1%)
Presenting featuresCough12 985 (62.2%)
Shortness of breath15 570 (74.5%)
Fever10 276 (49.2%)
Symptom duration (days)n18 877
Mean (SD)7.9 (8.9)
Median (IQR)5 (2, 10)
HR (beats/min)n20 460
Mean (SD)94.9 (21.6)
Median (IQR)93 (80, 108)
RR (breaths/min)n20 346
Mean (SD)23.3 (7)
Median (IQR)22 (18, 26)
Systolic BP (mm Hg)n20 298
Mean (SD)134.6 (24.9)
Median (IQR)133 (118, 149)
Diastolic BP (mm Hg)n20 212
Mean (SD)78.2 (16.1)
Median (IQR)78 (68, 88)
Temperature (°C)n20 231
Mean (SD)37.1 (1.1)
Median (IQR)37 (36.4, 37.8)
Oxygen saturation (%)n20 632
Mean (SD)94.7 (6.8)
Median (IQR)96 (94, 98)
GCSn15 428
Mean (SD)14.6 (1.4)
Median (IQR)15 (15, 15)
AVPUMissing2387
Alert17 568 (94.9%)
Verbal640 (3.5%)
Pain183 (1%)
Unresponsive113 (0.6%)
ComorbiditiesHypertension6434 (30.8%)
Heart disease4700 (22.5%)
Diabetes4129 (19.8%)
Other chronic lung disease3764 (18%)
Asthma3408 (16.3%)
Renal impairment1930 (9.2%)
Active malignancy1120 (5.4%)
Steroid therapy557 (2.7%)
No chronic disease5791 (27.7%)
Performance statusMissing1078
Unrestricted normal activity10 536 (53.2%)
Limited strenuous activity, can do light activity2371 (12%)
Limited activity, can self-care2776 (14%)
Limited self-care2649 (13.4%)
Bed/chair bound, no self-care1481 (7.5%)
Other clinical concernSevere respiratory distress587 (2.8%)
Respiratory exhaustion292 (1.4%)
Severe dehydration261 (1.2%)
  • AVPU, Alert Verbal Pain Unresponsive.