Return to work after an acute cardiac event: the role of psychosocial factors

Introduction: Long-term sick leave is currently a considerable public health concern due to the enormous financial consequences for society. Return to work (RTW) after a cardiac event is a major goal of cardiac rehabilitation because it improves patients’ quality of life and economic security, and reduces occupational disability costs. The aim of this article is to review the current and main psychosocial factors influencing the RTW process among cardiac patients. Materials and Methods: The review is based on PubMed, Scopus and PsycINFO analysis related to psychosocial factors predicting return to work after coronary angioplasty or heart surgery. We use the follow key-words: cardiac event, cardiac rehabilitation, psychosocial factors, return to work. The studies included in the review were published from 1968 to 2014. Results: Psychosocial factors play an important role in determining whether patients resume their job and the duration of sickness absence after coronary angioplasty or heart surgery. The most important nonmedical factors associated with cardiac patients’ RTW include socio-demographic (age, gender, education, professional category), psychological (depression, illness perception, personal motivation and expectations, personality), and psychosocial work-related factors (work stress, social support, job satisfaction). Discussion: The early identification of psychosocial risk factorsassociated with prolonged work disability is an important task for occupational health, in order to favour a fast and healthy RTW after long-term sickness absence. Future studies are needed to explore the effectiveness of rehabilitative and RTW interventions which include psychosocial risks management for improving employment chances among cardiac patients on long-term sick leave.