Predicting return to work following a cardiac event in Malaysia

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Return to work is crucial for patient recovery after cardiac events.
• Cardiac rehabilitation programs play a vital role in facilitating this process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of return to work (RTW) post-cardiac event in Malaysia.
• To identify factors influencing RTW in this population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of patients in a cardiac rehabilitation program (2011-2012).
• Data collected included socio-demographics, work-related factors, risk factors, and acute myocardial infarction details.
• Quality of life assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire; regression analysis used to identify predictors of RTW.

Main Results:

• A total of 112 patients participated, with a RTW prevalence of 66.1%.
• Factors associated with RTW included younger age, presence of diabetes mellitus, higher Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores, and less severe coronary artery disease (single or two-vessel disease).
• Patients with single-vessel disease were 8.9 times more likely to RTW compared to three-vessel disease.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights key factors influencing RTW after a cardiac event.
• Emphasis on mental health within cardiac rehabilitation programs may improve successful return to work outcomes.