Authors (including presenting author) :
Tam KC(1), Chu WY(1), Yu PK(1), Wong YCJ(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, Princess Margaret Hospital
Introduction :
Occurrence of cardiac event in younger population is rising, it is likely contributed by change of lifestyle and diet. Concerns on return to work of young adult after cardiac intervention are better recognized by public. Cardiac work rehabilitation program of Occupational Therapy Department of Princess Margaret Hospital aiming at early work resumption of cardiac survivors has commenced since 2014.
Objectives :
(1) to investigate the characteristics of cardiac survivors in early return to work cardiac rehabilitation program from May 2014 to May 2018; (2) to investigate predictive factors in early work resumption after cardiac events
Methodology :
Clients who referred to Occupational Therapy Department of Princess Margaret Hospital for cardiac work rehabilitation program from May 2014 to May 2018 were recruited. Their sociodemographic data (age, sex), length of hospitalization and clinical parameters were evaluated and compared, determinants of early return to work were examined with the independent t-test.
Result & Outcome :
80 subjects were referred in the study period, majority of them were male (men = 76, 95% vs women = 4, 5%) and suffered from myocardial infarction (75, 93.8%). Out of these subjects, 66 (mean age = 54.2, 82.5%) attended the cardiac work rehabilitation program.
Among the 66 participants, 51(77.3%), who attended work assessment only, were assigned to Group 1. The remaining 15 (22.7%), who required training after initial work assessment, were assigned to Group 2. Subjects of Group 1 were significantly faster to return to work (p< 0.001, independent t-test), greater in level of metabolic equivalent of task (p=0.031, independent t-test), better mental health status (p=0.030, independent t-test), and lesser symptoms to anxiety and depression (p=0.018, independent t-test).
In addition to physical fitness, early resumption to work of cardiac patient is primarily predicted by psychological wellness. These findings indicated that an effective and comprehensive cardiac work rehabilitation program should contain both physical training and psychosocial intervention.
