Key result
Self-employment predicts a ~408% higher likelihood of earlier return to work among cardiovascular patients.
Why the study?
Facilitators and barriers to return to work after acute cardiovascular events or elective cardiac surgery needed to be explored across clinical, functional, and occupational factors.
What are the clinical, functional, and occupational predictors of return to work in employed adults after acute cardiovascular events or cardiac surgery?
What are the clinical, functional, and occupational predictors of return to work in employed adults after acute cardiovascular events or cardiac surgery?
Return to work after major cardiovascular events is highly influenced by occupational factors such as self-employment and clinical factors like undergoing PCI rather than surgery.
Self-employment was associated with earlier RTW after CV events; hypothesis-generating, requires validation before informing clinical counseling.
Background: This study explored facilitators and barriers to return to work (RTW) after acute cardiovascular events or elective cardiac surgery, integrating clinical, functional, and occupational factors. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Occupational Medicine and Cardiac Rehabilitation Units of the Maggiore Hospital in Trieste, Italy. Employed adults (18–67 years) admitted for acute coronary syndrome, valve replacement, or thoracic aortic surgery between January 2024 and July 2025 were enrolled. Sociodemographic, clinical, and occupational data were collected alongside functional and psychosocial assessments, including the Work Ability Index (WAI) and EQ-5D-5L. Predictors of RTW were analyzed with Cox regression models. Results: Among 103 patients (mean age 56.8 years; 92.2% male), 77.7% returned to work after a mean of 58.9 days. Independent predictors of earlier RTW were self-employment (HR 5.08, 95% CI 2.52–10.27), occupational responsibility (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.01–4.45), and percutaneous coronary intervention (HR 2.72, 95% CI 1.47–5.06). Higher job-related physical demands, arrhythmias, and cardiac rehabilitation participation were associated with delayed RTW. Mean WAI (37.2 ± 5.1) and EQ-5D index (0.92 ± 0.09; EQ-VAS 77.4 ± 12.9) indicated preserved function and quality of life. Conclusions: RTW after cardiovascular events is multifactorial. Integrating occupational medicine into cardiac rehabilitation is key to ensuring safe, sustainable reintegration.
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Sansone et al. (2025) studied this question. Among 103 cardiovascular patients, 77.7% returned to work after a mean of 58.9 days, with self-employment predicting earlier return (HR 5.08).
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