Post-acute care
Post-acute care has been studied in 4 papers since 2022: 1 trial and 3 observational studies in people; 1 in the past year. The newest paper, Nov 25, 2025: “Evaluating Barriers to Achieving the Minimal Important Change in Older Patients With Hip Fractures After Post-Acute Care”.
4 papers study it15 findingsUpdated
“PAC for more than two weeks significantly decreased 90-day ER visits (odds ratio [OR] 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10-0.43; p = 0.024)”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 3 independent labs in 1 country
- Funders: Taipei City Government Department of Health and 1 more
- Human trial1
- Humans3
Studies in people
1 study gave post-acute care to people and measured what changed.
down: Decreases emergency room visitsOR 0.21, 95% CI 0.10–0.43
down: Decreases hospital readmissionOR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16–0.56
down: Decreases mortalityOR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04–0.87
Trial254 people≥ 7590-day follow-up
Frail older adults after hospitalization
PloS one, Jan 6, 2023
What did studies of Post-acute care find?
9Studies of Post-acute care measured 9 outcomes; the most studied are hospital readmission (2 studies), mortality (2) and pain (2).
Hospital readmission
downin humans2OR 0.3
2 studies
Hospital readmission
downin humans2OR 0.3
Post-acute care decreases hospital readmission in humans.
“had a lower rate of mortality, readmission rate, fracture (re-fracture and secondary fracture)”
Humansafter hip fracture surgeryn = 158
BMC geriatrics
Post-acute care decreases hospital readmission in humans (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16–0.56).
“We observed that the duration of PAC was an independent protecting factor for ER visits (OR 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10–0.43; p = 0.024), readmissions (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16–0.56; p < 0.001), and mortality (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04–0.87; p = 0.032).”
Human trialduration of PAC ≧15 days90-day follow-upn = 254
PloS one
Post-acute care decreases hospital readmission in humans (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16-0.56).
“PAC for more than two weeks significantly decreased 90-day ER visits (odds ratio [OR] 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10-0.43; p = 0.024), readmissions (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16-0.56; p < 0.001)”
Human trialfrail older adults after acute hospitalizationtwo to four weeksn = 254
PloS one
Mortality
downin humans2OR 0.2
2 studies
Mortality
downin humans2OR 0.2
Post-acute care decreases mortality in humans.
“joined the PAC rehabilitation program after the surgery had a lower rate of mortality”
Humansafter hip fracture surgeryn = 158
BMC geriatrics
Post-acute care decreases mortality in humans (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04–0.87).
“We observed that the duration of PAC was an independent protecting factor for ER visits (OR 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10–0.43; p = 0.024), readmissions (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16–0.56; p < 0.001), and mortality (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04–0.87; p = 0.032).”
Human trialduration of PAC ≧15 days90-day follow-upn = 254
PloS one
Post-acute care decreases mortality in humans (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04-0.87).
“readmissions (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16-0.56; p < 0.001), and mortality (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04-0.87; p = 0.032).”
Human trialfrail older adults after acute hospitalizationtwo to four weeksn = 254
PloS one
Pain
downin humans2
2 studies
Pain
downin humans2
Post-acute care decreases pain in humans (from 5.03 to 2.52, P < 0.001).
“NRS (from 5.03 to 2.52, P < 0.001)”
Humansafter hip fracture surgeryn = 228
Geriatric orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation
Post-acute care decreases pain in humans (P < .001).
“After PAC, both HPAC and IPAC groups showed improvement on Barthel index, numerical pain rating scale, and Harris hip score (all P < .001).”
Humanspatients with fragility fractures after surgery
Geriatric orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation
Emergency room visits
downin humans1OR 0.21
1 study
Emergency room visits
downin humans1OR 0.21
Post-acute care decreases emergency room visits in humans (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.10–0.43).
“We observed that the duration of PAC was an independent protecting factor for ER visits (OR 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10–0.43; p = 0.024), readmissions (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16–0.56; p < 0.001), and mortality (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04–0.87; p = 0.032).”
Human trialduration of PAC ≧15 days90-day follow-upn = 254
PloS one
Post-acute care decreases emergency room visits in humans (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.10-0.43).
“PAC for more than two weeks significantly decreased 90-day ER visits (odds ratio [OR] 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10-0.43; p = 0.024)”
Human trialfrail older adults after acute hospitalizationtwo to four weeksn = 254
PloS one
Harris hip score
upin humans1
1 study
Harris hip score
upin humans1
Post-acute care improves harris hip score in humans (from 29.35 to 63.68, P < 0.005).
“and HHS (from 29.35 to 63.68, P < 0.005).”
Humansafter hip fracture surgeryn = 228
Geriatric orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation
Barthel Index
upin humans1
1 study
Barthel Index
upin humans1
Post-acute care improves barthel Index in humans (from 41.45 to 65.15, P < 0.001).
“After treatment, significant improvements were observed in the Barthel Index (from 41.45 to 65.15, P < 0.001)”
Humansafter hip fracture surgeryn = 228
Geriatric orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation
Postoperative complications
downin humans1
1 study
Postoperative complications
downin humans1
Post-acute care decreases postoperative complications in humans.
“PAC is associated with a lower rate of mortality and complications such as urinary tract infection, bed sore, and pneumonia”
Humansafter hip fracture surgeryn = 158
BMC geriatrics
Hip fracture
downin humans1
1 study
Hip fracture
downin humans1
Post-acute care decreases hip fracture in humans.
“lower rate of mortality, readmission rate, fracture (re-fracture and secondary fracture)”
Humansafter hip fracture surgeryn = 158
BMC geriatrics
Hip function
upin humans1
1 study
Hip function
upin humans1
Post-acute care improves hip function in humans (P < .001).
“After PAC, both HPAC and IPAC groups showed improvement on Barthel index, numerical pain rating scale, and Harris hip score (all P < .001).”
Humanspatients with fragility fractures after surgery
Geriatric orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation