Predicting return to work after acute myocardial infarction. Significance of clinical data, exercise test variables and beta-blocker therapy.
Among 66 full-time employed men surviving an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and participating in the Norwegian postinfarction study with timolol, 50 (75.7%) resumed their previous work within 12 months, and 16 (24.3%) retired. Stepwise logistic regression analysis of clinical data and of results from an exercise test 3 months post AMI revealed the following factors of independent predictive value for enhanced return to work: previous labor characterized as light or moderately heavy (p = 0.001), low age at the time of infarction (p = 0.001), timolol treatment (p = 0.009), ability to stop smoking post AMI (p = 0.006), and a high exercise capacity on the exercise test (p = 0.016). It is concluded that the clinical history and an exercise test 3 months after AMI can identify patients who are more likely to resume work, and that post-AMI beta-blocker treatment with timolol and ability to stop smoking are predictive of an enhanced return to work.
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000367:Age Factors; D004651:Employment; D005080:Exercise Test; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013999:Timolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D013999:Timolol