Return to Work after an Acute Coronary Syndrome: Patients’ Perspective

• Published in: Safety and health at work 2012-06, Vol.3 (2), p.117-122
• Main Authors: Slebus, Frans G., Jorstad, Harald T., Peters, Ron J.G., Kuijer, P. Paul F.M., Willems, J. (Han) H.B.M., Sluiter, Judith K., Frings-Dresen, Monique H.W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute coronary syndrome; Facilitating; Hindering factors; Original; Return to work
• ISSN: 2093-7911; 2093-7997
• DOI: 10.5491/SHAW.2012.3.2.117

Objectives: To describe the time perspective of return to work and the factors that facilitate and hinder return to work in a group of survivors of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: Retrospective semi-structured telephone survey 2 to 3 years after hospitalization with 84 employed Dutch ACS-patients from one academic medical hospital. Results: Fifty-eight percent of patients returned to work within 3 months, whereas at least 88% returned to work once within 2 years. Two years after hospitalization, 12% of ACS patients had not returned to work at all, and 24% were working, but not at pre-ACS levels. For all ACS-patients, the most mentioned categories of facilitating factors to return to work were having no complaints and not having signs or symptoms of heart disease. Physical incapacity, co-morbidity, and mental incapacity were the top 3 categories of hindering factors against returning to work. Conclusion: Within 2 years, 36% of the patients had not returned to work at their pre-ACS levels. Disease factors, functional capacity, environmental factors, and personal factors were listed as affecting subjects’ work ability level.