[The effect of myocardial infarct on the employment situation of patients].

Introduction And Objectives: 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.