Optimising Return to Work for Cardiovascular Patients: An Interdisciplinary Approach in Occupational Medicine and...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Occupational Medicine
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Investigated facilitators and barriers to return to work (RTW) post-cardiovascular events or surgery.
• Integrated clinical, functional, and occupational factors in the analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify predictors of timely return to work after acute cardiovascular events or cardiac surgery.
• Explore the interplay between health status, work characteristics, and RTW.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study of 103 employed adults aged 18-67.
• Collected sociodemographic, clinical, occupational, functional (Work Ability Index), and quality of life (EQ-5D-5L) data.
• Utilized Cox regression models to analyze RTW predictors.

Main Results:

• 77.7% of patients returned to work (mean 58.9 days).
• Earlier RTW associated with self-employment, occupational responsibility, and percutaneous coronary intervention.
• Delayed RTW linked to high physical job demands, arrhythmias, and cardiac rehabilitation participation.

Conclusions:

• Return to work after cardiovascular events is multifactorial.
• Occupational medicine integration into cardiac rehabilitation is crucial for safe and sustainable reintegration.
• Functional status and quality of life were generally preserved post-event.