Seven-Year Intervention Rate and Effect of Early Rehabilitation in China: A National-Wide Hospital-Based Study

Yuanmingfei Zhang ¹, Hua Zhang ², Mouwang Zhou ¹

⁰From the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, China National Center for Quality Control of Rehabilitation Medicine, Beijing, China.

American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation +

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September 19, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Early rehabilitation interventions in Chinese hospitals increased from 2016-2022, reducing mortality but increasing hospital stay and costs. This trend varied by province, offering insights for less developed countries.

Area Of Science

Rehabilitation Medicine
Health Services Research
Public Health

Background

Early rehabilitation service capacity is crucial for population health needs.
Limited data exists on early rehabilitation interventions in Chinese hospitals.
Tertiary general hospitals play a key role in providing these services.

Purpose Of The Study

To analyze trends in early rehabilitation interventions in Chinese tertiary general hospitals.
To evaluate the impact of early rehabilitation on patient outcomes and healthcare utilization.
To identify factors influencing the rate of early rehabilitation interventions.

Main Methods

Analysis of 7,914,692 medical records from 1305 tertiary general hospitals in China (2016-2022).
Inclusion criteria: stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, spinal/joint degeneration, fracture, sports injury.
Data included intervention rates, complications, mortality, length of stay, and total cost.

Main Results

Early rehabilitation intervention rates increased annually from 2016-2022, with a notable rise in 2020.
Patients with complications showed higher intervention rates.
Early rehabilitation was associated with lower mortality rates but longer hospital stays and higher costs.
Provincial variations in intervention rates were observed.

Conclusions

Early rehabilitation interventions are increasingly adopted in Chinese hospitals, improving survival rates.
While beneficial for mortality, early rehabilitation necessitates longer hospital stays and increased costs.
Quality improvement measures can enhance early rehabilitation rates, particularly in less developed regions.

Keywords:

Early Rehabilitation Epidemiology Mortality Tertiary General Hospitals in China