Which Factors do Influence the Rate of Employment after Surgical and Medical Treatment in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease?

Abstract

The status of employment was examined in a total of 353 patients with coronary artery disease. The diagnosis was established in the year 1976. In 204 patients an operation was performed (group op), 149 patients were treated medically (group nop). According to their profession the patients were assigned to labourers, office workers and professionals.

In group op 26 patients and in group nop 33 patients died during the observation time. In 49 patients of group nop a complete analysis was not possible because no further informations were available. There were no significant differences in the status of employment between the patients of the two groups.

The results showed that 44 % in group op and 50 % in group nop returned to work without significant differences in these two groups. Labourers showed the lowest, professionals the highest rate of reemployment irrespective of the kind of treatment. The extent of coronary artery disease influenced the prognosis of medically treated patients and therefore the status of employment of the surviving patients. The degree of revascularization did not influence the status of reemployment in the surgically treated group. Left ventricular function did not significantly influence the rate of employment in the operated patients, too. The same effect was seen in the nonoperation group, when only the surviving patients were observed. In all groups patients who did not work and received pension were older than the other patients. No significant differences were found concerning angina pectoris of the patients who returned to work and who did not. But the patients of group nop had minor symptoms on the average.

In summary the results show that about 50% of the patients returned to work. Coronary artery surgery does not influence this rate significantly. The rate of reemployment in this study is not influenced by therapeutic measures - either surgical or medical - but by the status and profession of the patients as well as by the degree of angina pectoris ‘postoperatively’.