[Occupational reintegration and subjective quality of life after inpatient rehabilitation in myocardial infarct]

Abstract

The present study was carried out on an unselected population of 107 myocardial infarction patients admitted for immediate post-acute rehabilitation. The patients were assessed (a) at discharge from multidimensional in-patient treatment, and (b) after a period of 12 months back home. Our aim had been to trace those psychological and general cardiological parameters that contribute to a patient's reintegration into work life as well as improved quality of life. It was found that patients with good physical coping did not suffer a reinfarction in the subsequent twelve months period. Younger or middle-age, male patients significantly more often returned to work. Remarkably, no correlation was found between good psychological coping with the infarction and return to work. As had been expected, a higher quality of life was achieved by those patients whose psychological status is only slightly impaired, who do not attach too great importance to their job, and who reported good physical coping as well as social reintegration and successful adjustment in their lifestyle.