Return to work after myocardial infarction/coronary artery bypass grafting: patients' and physicians' initial viewpoints and outcome 12 months later

Nonmedical factors play an important role in determining whether patients r esume their work after myocardial infarction or CABG. The main questions de alt with in this study are: What is the respective basis of physicians' and patients' judgements as far as vocational disabilities are concerned, and what are the decisive factors that facilitate a prediction as to who will r eturn to work and who will not? 132 male patients participating in a cardia c rehabilitation program served as subjects. The age group was limited to p atients between 40 and 59 yr of age. The work situation 12 months following rehabilitation is known for 119 subjects; 74 had resumed their occupations . Results of regression analyses show that patients' and physicians' views on disabilities and re-employment are based on different factors. The physi cians derive their estimates mainly from medical Variables (cardiac status and comorbidity), whereas the patients' views are based on the overall heal th status, their former job status, job satisfaction, and negative incentiv es for the return to work. Three variables were found that allow a predicti on to be made as to re-employment in 85% of all cases: (1) age, (2) patient s' feelings about the extent to which they are disabled by their cardiac pr oblem, and (3) the physicians' views on the extent to which the patient is vocationally disabled by his overall medical situation. Medical variables ( e.g. cardiac status) had little relevance to re-employment. The results are discussed with regard to the consequences for cardiac rehabilitation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.