The Impact of Taiwan's Nationwide Postacute Care Program on Functional Recovery, Health Care Utilization, and Cost-Effectiveness for Patients With Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Arch Phys Med RehabilMay 17, 2026 (epub)
Chao-Chun Huang, Fu An Yang, Yi-Ching Chu et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of Taiwan's Post-Acute Care for Cerebrovascular Disease (PAC-CVD) program on stroke survivors. Analyzing over 10,000 patients, the study found significant improvements in functional recovery, with a pooled Barthel Index increase of +25.4 and a modified Rankin Scale change of -0.71. The PAC program also reduced acute care costs by nearly 50% compared to traditional care.
Key findings
- Pooled Barthel Index improvement was +25.4 (95% CI: 23.3-27.5).
- Modified Rankin Scale change was -0.71 (95% CI: -0.74 to -0.68).
- PAC-CVD reduced acute care costs to $5,848 compared to $11,061 for traditional care.
- Mean difference in Barthel Index change was +9.5 (95% CI: 3.8-15.2) compared to traditional care.
Why it matters
The findings highlight the effectiveness of structured post-acute care programs in enhancing recovery and reducing healthcare costs for stroke patients, which is crucial for optimizing resource allocation in healthcare systems.