This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Psychosocial, physical factors important in returning to work from ACS
European adults returning to work after an ACS face several factors fully reintegrating, according to findings published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Rona K. Reibis, MD, of the Cardiac Outpatient Clinic, Am Park Sanssouci, and the Center of Rehabilitation Research at the University of Potsdam in Germany, and colleagues published a review of different approaches and recommendations for action.
“Patients who believe they can still do their job and want to go back will make a success of it,” Reibis said in a press release. “After a heart attack it is very rare for patients to be physically unable to perform their previous duties, including heavy work.”
CAD, including ACS, is the most acquired cardiac disease and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, the researchers wrote.
Reibis and colleagues determined that return to work rates within 12 months after ACS is about 67% to 93%. The mean time delay until return to work is 2 to 3 months.
The researchers analyzed data from a Danish registry that identified that although 91% return to work initially, 24% of patients with ACS left work after a year.
Women older than 55 years were less likely to return to work after an ACS, according to Reibis and colleagues.
“There is still the traditional idea that the man must go back to work because he is the breadwinner,” Reibis said in a press release, “Whereas women can be reintegrated, but it depends on whether they want to. Added to that, women tend to have more doubts about their ability to perform their prior task — particularly blue-collar roles. Well-educated women with white-collar jobs don’t have this problem.”
The researchers discerned there are several psychosocial factors when deciding to work after ACS. Concerns over depression, anxiety, job control and work ability were some of the barriers of returning to work for patients with CVD, the researchers wrote.
In workers returning from ACS, the level of job physicality and working ability of the patient may also determine the level of success of employment reintegration, Reibis and colleagues wrote.
The implementation of cardiac rehabilitation was an essential treatment in patients with ACS, but only less than half of eligible CV patients participate, the researchers wrote.
Reibis and colleagues recommended part-time or stepwise reintegration for returning to work. The process consists of a continuous increase in the daily number of hours of work until returning to full-time work.
“Others may wish to ease back into their former role,” Reibis said in the release. “During the first couple of months if you are not able to keep up with the workload, change it. Don’t wait until it becomes unmanageable and you have to quit.” – by Earl Holland Jr.
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.