2.2. Randomization and Data Collection
Over 24 months (February 2018–February 2020), all patients with a positive NECPAL test who were admitted to the geriatric convalescence unit were selected consecutively and randomized to the study groups in a 1:1 ratio. Randomization was stratified by geriatrician. The independent variables included and collected from the computerized clinical records of the Basque Health Service (Osakidetza) and the computerized records of the subacute hospital were (1) sociodemographic characteristics comprising gender, age, marital status, type of coexistence, and Gijón socio-family assessment [Drug treatment data and variables related to pharmacotherapy were collected from the primary care electronic prescriptions records of the Basque Health Service (Osakidetza) at hospital admission and discharge and during the study follow-up. Only regular prescriptions were recorded; those used on-demand or for a brief time were recorded separately. Lastly, the 28-day cost of prescriptions was estimated from the same source of drug treatment records and the December 2021 price list prescription (Nomenclator) of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products. Only the active prescriptions were considered at each time-point studied. Based on the retail price of each prescribed medication, the unit price in € corrected by the patient’s prescribed dose at each time-point was calculated. Subsequently, to calculate the 28-day cost of prescriptions, the corrected unit price was multiplied by 28.