Patients fullfilling inclusion criteria were informed about the nature of the study and asked to give their informed consent. Extensive information was also provided to patients’ relatives to obtain their collaboration. Patients fullfilling the inclusion criteria and having none of the criteria for exclusion were randomised, using a set of computer-generated random numbers, in a 1:1 ratio either to the treatment group (home-based hospitalization (GHHS)) or to the control group (conventional care (GMW)), using blinded sealed envelopes. Intention-to-treat analysis was used.