Impact of acute myocardial infarction on patients' labour activity

Introduction and objectives. The impact of acute myocardial infarction in l abour activity changes from one country to another as well as patients' cha racteristics. Our purpose was aimed to learn the main demographic, professi onal, clinical and therapeutic variables which might affect the return to w ork after suffering a myocardial infarction in our environment. Methods. 584 patients treated consecutively in our Coronary Unit for 4 year s, aged under 65, were studied. The following aspects were analyzed: age, s ex, previous ischaemic heart disease, previous working condition, professio nal level, economical area of labour activity, main therapeutic procedures and complications, number of days of sick leave, posterior labour status an d date of invalidity or death, should it occur. The minimun follow up perio d was two years. Results. 65.3% of patients were regularly working before suffering the myoc ardial infarction. Mean length of sick leave after myocardial infarction wa s 243.9 days although it changed according to age and economical areas. 56. 6% of the patients returned to work according to age (odds ratio 0.92), hig h professional status (odds ratio = 2.14), economical area of services (odd s ratio = 2.03), and the presence of previous anginal attacks (odds ratio = 1.73). Conclusions. In our environment, patients less likely to resume their work after suffering a myocardial infarction are older, working in agricultural and industrial areas, with a lower professional level and without known isc hemic heart disease antecedents.