Abstract
Background. Several characteristics appear to be important for estimating the likelihood of reentering the workforce after surgery. The aim of the present study was to describe work status in a two-year time period around the time of cardiac surgery and estimate the probability of returning to the workforce. Methods. We included 681 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and/or heart valve procedures from 2003 to 2007 in the North Denmark Region. We linked hospital data to data in the DREAM database which holds information of everyone receiving social benefits. Results. At the time of surgery 17.3% were allocated disability pension and 2.3% were allocated a permanent part-time benefit. Being unemployed one year before surgery reduced the likelihood of return to the workforce (RR = 0.74 (0.60–0.92)) whereas unemployment at the time of surgery had no impact on return to the workforce (RR = 0.96 (0.78–1.18)). Sickness absence before surgery reduced the likelihood of return to the workforce. Conclusion. This study found the work status before surgery to be associated with the likelihood of return to the workforce within one year after surgery. Before surgery one-fifth of the population either was allocated disability pension or received a permanent part-time benefit.
Highlights
Several characteristics appear to be important for estimating the likelihood of reentering the workforce after surgery
In the early era of cardiac surgery, the main focus was on immediate postoperative survival
The ability to return to the workforce must be regarded as a very important part of the postoperative outcome since many patients are still part of the workforce when they undergo cardiac surgery
Summary
Several characteristics appear to be important for estimating the likelihood of reentering the workforce after surgery. The aim of the present study was to describe work status in a two-year time period around the time of cardiac surgery and estimate the probability of returning to the workforce. This study found the work status before surgery to be associated with the likelihood of return to the workforce within one year after surgery. The EuroScore (the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation) is today probably the most widely implemented scoring system for estimating mortality up to 30 days after surgery [1]; with improving results regarding survival, more attention should be paid to the postoperative quality of life, including the patients’ ability to return to the workforce. The ability to return to the workforce must be regarded as a very important part of the postoperative outcome since many patients are still part of the workforce when they undergo cardiac surgery. Preoperative work status might have an impact on the postoperative likelihood of return to work [2, 4,5,6, 8]
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