Table 3

Variables associated with admission via accident and emergency department

		Univariate analysis				Logistic regression
		Odds ratio	95% CI			Odds ratio	95% CI
Age
⩽ 1 year	Baseline			Baseline
> 1 year to ⩽ 3 years	2.32^**	1.60 to 3.37		1.77^*	1.14 to 2.77
> 3 years	1.70^**	1.20 to 2.41		1.13	0.72 to 1.76
Carstairs score
⩽ −3 (affluent)	Baseline			Baseline
−3 to ⩽ 3	2.29^**	1.22 to 4.30		1.44	0.70 to 3.00
> 3 (deprived)	3.03	1.59 to 5.77		2.25^*	1.05 to 4.83
Time ill before presentation
⩽ 6 hours	Baseline			Baseline
> 6 hours and ⩽ 24 hours	0.54^**	0.34 to 0.84		0.57^*	0.34 to 0.94
> 24 hours	0.38^**	0.26 to 0.54		0.43^**	0.29 to 0.66
Presenting problem
Fit	2.02^**	1.38 to 2.96		1.88^**	1.19 to 2.95
Feeding difficulty	0.52^*	0.31 to 0.87		0.49^*	0.24 to 0.97
Length of stay
> 24 compared with ⩽ 24 hours	0.69^*	0.49 to 0.98		NS	—

Logistic regression is adjusted for variables measurable at time of admission with p < 0.1 in univariate analysis (age, Carstairs score, duration of illness, presenting problem, and hospital).
3-150 p ⩽ 0.05; ^**p ⩽ 0.01.