Objectives: Coronary heart disease is frequent in the working-age population. Traditional outcomes, such as mortality and hospital readmission, are useful for evaluating prognosis. Fit-for-work is an emerging outcome with clinical as well as socio-economic significance. We describe the possible benefit of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program for return to work (RTW) after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Material and Methods: We evaluated 204 patients with recent ACS. They were divided into 4 groups on the basis of their occupational work load: very light (VL), light (L), moderate (M), and heavy (H). Work-related outcomes were assessed with the Work Performance Scale (WPS) of the Functional Status Questionnaire and as "days missed from work" (DMW) in the previous 4 weeks. The variables considered for outcomes were percent ejection fraction, functional capacity expressed in metabolic equivalents (METs), and participation or non-participation in the CR program (CR+ and CR-). Results: One hundred thirty (66%) patients took part in the CR program. Total WPS scores for CR+ and CR-subgroups were VL group: 18±4 vs. 14±4 (p < 0.001), L group: 18±3 vs. 14±3 (p < 0.0001), M group: 19±3 vs. 16±3 (p < 0.003), and H group: 20±4 vs. 17±3 (p < 0.006). Fewer DMW were reported by the CR+ group. Conclusions: Non-participation in CR was a consistent cause of poorer work-related outcomes. Our findings indicate that CR and occupational counseling play a very important role in worker recovery and subsequent reintegration in the workplace, in particular among clerical workers.
CITATION STYLE
Lamberti, M., Ratti, G., Gerardi, D., Capogrosso, C., Ricciardi, G., Fulgione, C., … Capogrosso, P. (2016). Work-related outcome after acute coronary syndrome: Implications of complex cardiac rehabilitation in occupational medicine. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 29(4), 649–657. https://doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00643
Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.