Factors associated with return to work after acute myocardial infarction in Tunisia

Abstract

Return to work is an important indicator of recovery after acute myocardial infarction. Little is known, however, about the rate of returning to work within the year after an acute myocardial infarction in Tunisia, as well as the factors associated with returning to work after an acute myocardial infarction. To determine the rate of return to work within 12 months after acute myocardial infarction, and identify patient factors associated with returning to work. This cross-sectional study, conducted in the cardiology department of Charles-Nicolle Hospital (Tunisia) identified 193 patients under 65 years of age who were employed at the time of the index acute myocardial infarction hospitalization during the period between January 2019 and December 2021. Of 193 patients (mean age of 51.62 years, with a maximum of 65 years and a minimum of 28 years), 155 patients (80.3%) returned to work after a median of 39.3 days off work. Among them, 132 patients (68.4%) returned to the same job, 8 patients had their jobs adapted and 4 patients changed their occupation. The factors that favored return to work were: age under 55 years (P = 0.004), a low to medium socio-economic background (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.005, respectively), a hospital stay of less than 7 days (P = 0.002), a primary level of education (P = 0.013), job satisfaction (P = 0.03) and the cardiologist's opinion of disability (p = 0.0001). On the other hand, recurrence of angina, dyspnea and fatigue were factors of work cessation (P = 0.0001), as well as jobs with a high physical workload (P = 0.001). The identification of factors influencing work resumption time after acute coronary syndromes may allow a better social and occupational reintegration. Therefore, a cooperation between cardiologist and occupational health physician is essential since the acute period of the myocardial infarction.