Return to work after coronary artery bypass surgery in a population of long-term survivors.
BACKGROUND
Return to paid employment may be facilitated by coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. We assessed work status in a population-based study of long-term outcomes of CABG.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between returning to work after CABG and clinical and socio-demographic factors.


METHODS
A postal survey of 2,500 randomly selected patients 6-20 years post-CABG. The outcomes assessed were work status in the year before and after CABG and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measured with SF-36.


RESULTS
Response was 82% (n = 2,061). Employment fell from 56% in the year prior to CABG to 42% in the year after. Workers in 'blue-collar' occupations were more likely to reduce their work status than those in 'white collar' occupations (46% versus 29%, p < 0.001). Independent predictors of reducing employment were increasing age (9% per year, 99% CI: 1.06-1.11, p < 0.001), 'blue-collar' versus 'white collar' occupation (OR: 2.1, 99% CI: 1.4-3.1) and female sex (OR: 2.1, 99% CI: 1.1-3.6). HRQOL among participants under 60 years of age at follow-up was better for those who returned to work after CABG surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
CABG surgery is followed by a net loss to paid employment of working age patients which increases with age, and is more likely for those in blue-collar occupations and women.
Bradshaw
Pamela J
PJ
School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, M431, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. pamela.bradshaw@ices.on.ca
Jamrozik
Konrad
K
Gilfillan
Ian S
IS
Thompson
Peter L
PL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome