Self-rated health and return to work after first-time stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Occupational Medicine

Background:

• Self-rated health is crucial for life quality post-stroke, especially for younger patients seeking to return to work.
• Return to work is a key outcome for younger stroke survivors, impacting their overall recovery and independence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between self-rated health at 3 months post-stroke and subsequent return to work and work stability.
• To identify clinical and demographic factors associated with return to work and sustained employment after stroke in younger individuals.

Main Methods:

• A Danish population-based cohort study included 590 first-time stroke patients under 60 years old.
• Self-rated health was assessed using the Short Form 12 (SF-12) questionnaire at 3 months post-stroke.
• Employment status was tracked using national register data on transfer payments.

Main Results:

• Fifty percent of patients returned to work or were job-seeking at 12 and 24 months post-stroke.
• Over 70% of those who returned to work remained self-supporting without sickness benefits for 12 months.
• Good self-rated health and minor stroke severity at 3 months strongly predicted return to work at 12 and 24 months.

Conclusions:

• Self-rated health 3 months after stroke is a strong predictor of return to work.
• Perceived health status is significantly associated with sustained work participation and stability post-stroke.