[The return to work after coronary revascularization]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Occupational Medicine

Background:

• Work resumption is a key indicator of therapeutic success post-intervention.
• Previous studies on working status after coronary revascularization exist for Western countries.
• Limited data is available on this topic within Spain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate work resumption rates after coronary artery revascularization in a Spanish population.
• To analyze the impact of different revascularization methods (surgery vs. angioplasty) on return-to-work.
• To identify factors influencing post-procedure employment status.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 210 patients undergoing coronary artery revascularization (surgery or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty).
• Exclusion criteria included age 65+ and female sex (n=64).
• Comparison of working rates before and after interventions, and between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

Main Results:

• Work rates decreased significantly post-revascularization: from 63.2% to 28.9% for surgery, and 57.1% to 41.4% for angioplasty.
• Very few inactive patients returned to work post-procedure.
• Asymptomatic patients after angioplasty had higher return-to-work rates (58.1%) than symptomatic ones (11.1%, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• Coronary artery revascularization, especially surgery, appears to be a significant factor in work cessation in the studied Spanish population.
• The findings contrast with expectations and highlight a need for further investigation into socioeconomic impacts.
• Intervention type and patient symptomatology influence return-to-work outcomes.