Employment after coronary angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery in patients employed at the time of revascularization.
BACKGROUND
Patients who undergo coronary angioplasty have a shorter convalescence than those who undergo coronary bypass surgery. This may improve subsequent employment.


OBJECTIVE
To compare employment patterns after coronary angioplasty or surgery.


METHODS
Multicenter, randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
Seven tertiary care hospitals.


METHODS
409 employed patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.


METHODS
Coronary bypass surgery or balloon angioplasty.


METHODS
Time to return to work and time spent working during 4 years of follow-up.


RESULTS
Patients who underwent angioplasty returned to work 6 weeks sooner than patients who underwent coronary bypass surgery (P < 0.001), but long-term employment did not differ significantly (P > 0.2). Long-term employment was significantly lower among patients who were 60 to 64 years of age (P < 0.001), those who worked less than full-time at study entry (P < 0.001), and those who had less formal education (P = 0.005). Patients with only one source of health insurance were more likely to continue working (P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Faster recovery after angioplasty speeds return to work but does not improve long-term employment, which is primarily associated with nonmedical factors.
Hlatky
M A
MA
Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305-5405, USA. hlatky@stanford.edu
Boothroyd
D
D
Horine
S
S
Winston
C
C
Brooks
M M
MM
Rogers
W
W
Pitt
B
B
Reeder
G
G
Ryan
T
T
Smith
H
H
Whitlow
P
P
Wiens
R
R
Mark
D B
DB
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged