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Updated: Aug 29, 2026
A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
[Return to work after cardiologic rehabilitation]
Jacqueline Müller-Nordhorn1, Jürgen Gehring, Michael Kulig
1Institut für Sozialmedizin, Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsökonomie, Universitätsklinikum Charité, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. jacqueline.mueller-nordhorn@charite.de
Insights
Most patients return to work after cardiac rehabilitation, with predictors including younger age and better quality of life. Early identification of those at risk for not returning to work is crucial.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Cardiac rehabilitation is essential for patients post-cardiac events.
- Understanding return to work is vital for patient recovery and economic impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively determine return to work rates after cardiac rehabilitation.
- To identify predictors of successful return to work in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study enrolling 2441 patients from 18 cardiac rehabilitation centers.
- Data collected on patient demographics, employment status, quality of life, and exercise ECG results.
Main Results:
- 43% of patients were employed pre-event; 65% returned to work at 6 months, 67% at 12 months.
- Younger age, non-manual work, self-employment, higher quality of life, and better exercise ECG predicted return to work at 12 months.
Conclusions:
- Return to work is influenced by sociodemographic factors, quality of life, and exercise capacity.
- Identifying early predictors can help target interventions for patients at risk of failing to return to work.
Objectives:
The objectives of the present study were to determine prospectively return to work and its predictors in patients after cardiac rehabilitation.
Methods:
Patients were enrolled at admission to inpatient cardiac rehabilitation centres (n = 18). Primary indications for admission were myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.
Results:
We included 2441 consecutive patients (1907 men, mean age: 60 +/- 10 years; 534 women, mean age: 65 +/- 10 years). A total of 43% of all patients had been actively employed before the event. Of these patients, 65% had returned to work six months and 67% 12 months after cardiac rehabilitation. Successful return to work after 12 months was significantly predicted by younger age, non-manual work, self-employment, a higher physical and mental quality of life, and a better exercise ECG result.
Conclusion:
Return to work is predicted by sociodemographic factors, quality of life, and the exercise ECG at the rehabilitation centre. The determination of early predictors for return to work may aid to identify patients particularly at risk for failure to return to work.
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