[The effect of myocardial infarct on the employment situation of patients].
OBJECTIVE
The impact of acute myocardial infarction in labour activity changes from one country to another as well as patients' characteristics. Our purpose was aimed to learn the main demographic, professional, clinical and therapeutic variables which might affect the return to work after suffering a myocardial infarction in our environment.


METHODS
584 patients treated consecutively in our Coronary Unit for 4 years, aged under 65, were studied. The following aspects were analyzed: age, sex, previous ischaemic heart disease, previous working condition, professional level, economical area of labour activity, main therapeutic procedures and complications, number of days of sick leave, posterior labour status and date of invalidity or death, should it occur. The minimum follow up period was two years.


RESULTS
65.3% of patients were regularly working before suffering the myocardial infarction. Mean length of sick leave after myocardial infarction was 243.9 days although it changed according to age and economical areas. 56.6% of the patients returned to work according to age (odds ratio = 0.92), high professional status (odds ratio = 2.14), economical area of services (odds ratio = 2.03), and the presence of previous anginal attacks (odds ratio = 1.73).


CONCLUSIONS
In our environment, patients less likely to resume their work after suffering a myocardial infarction are older, working in agricultural and industrial areas, with a lower professional level and without known ischemic heart disease antecedents.
Gutiérrez Morlote
J
J
Unidad Coronaria, Universidad de Cantabria, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Cantabria.
Vacas Arlandis
M
M
Lobato García
A
A
Llorca Díaz
J
J
Prieto Solís
J A
JA
Domenech Delgado
J
J
San José Garagarza
J M
JM
D000367:Age Factors; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018582:Sick Leave; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
Impacto del infarto de miocardio en la situación laboral de los pacientes.