Return to Work After First Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Job outlook among men aged 25 to 64 years followed after first myocardial infarction (MI) is examined in a study of incidence and prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD) conducted by the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York, Employment status of 470 men with first MI is similar to that of men clinically free of CHD at the start of follow-up: 79% of men with Ml and 83% of CHD-free men are employed at the end of 4 1/2 fears of follow-up. Age and clinical severity of Ml influence rate of return to work and the proportions of men returning, but hypertension is not a significant factor. Blue-collar workers return to work more slowly than white-collar workers. Under age 55, blue-collar workers are more likely to return to changed jobs; among older men, retirement is more common in the blue-collar group.