[Occupational rehabilitation after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)--correlation with subjective...

On the basis of medical criteria percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is followed by only a short interval of work inability. This study evaluated the interval between PTCA and the return to work and the factors which may influence this interval. The study included 122 working patients with angiographically successful PTCA. Patients were followed up clinically and angiographically and completed a standardized questionnaire directly after PTCA and 4 months later. The study population comprised 87 patients (81 men, 6 women) who filled out both questionnaires appropriate for evaluation. Of these 48 (55%) had single-vessel, 27 (31%) two-vessel, and 12 (14%) three-vessel disease. Complete revascularization in terms of treatment of all lesions above 70% was achieved in 85 (98%) patients. In 30 (34%) patients restenosis developed during the observation period as evaluated by coronary angiography. At the time of the second evaluation 46 (53%) patients complained of persisting or new thoracic pain, which they understood as cardiac pain. After 4 months 68 (78%) patients returned to work, 12 (14%) were on sick leave, 3 (3%) were unemployed, and 4 (5%) were retired. The median of time on sick leave after PTCA was 14 days. The length of sick leave after PTCA was found to depend significantly on the previous intention to retire (25% vs. 75%, p < 0.01). Patients who did not return to work during study period reported more frequently of thoracic pain (55% vs. 45%, p = 0.01) and had less intention to return to work after PTCA (6% vs. 94%, p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)