Article

The role of prior cardiovascular risk (CVR) in the multifactorial
process of returning to work after a cerebrovascular event has not been adequately investigated. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to
analyse the association between previous CVR level, cardiovascular risk factors
(CVRFs) and return-to-work (RTW) following cerebrovascular disease. DESIGN: This
was a prospective observational study. METHODS: We analysed a cohort of 348
patients who had experienced an episode of cerebrovascular disease-related work
absence. These individuals were selected from the ICARIA study (Ibermutuamur
CArdiovascular RIsk Assessment). Global CVR was assessed using the SCORE system.
We investigated the association between demographics, work-related variables,
CVRFs and RTW following a cerebrovascular event. RESULTS: We found that a total
of 254 individuals (73.0%; 95% CI: 68.3-77.7) returned to work after
cerebrovascular disease. Also, we observed a median loss of 12 working years due
to disability. Moreover, adjusting for potential confounders revealed that low
CVR level and the absence of the following CVRFs was associated with a higher
likelihood of RTW: low vs moderate-to-high CVR level (OR: 2.55; 95% CI:
1.42-4.57), no hypertension before stroke (OR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.11-3.41),
non-smoker status (OR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.30-3.93) and no previous diabetes (OR:
2.46; 95% CI: 1.26-4.79). CONCLUSIONS: Low CVR, along with the absence of several
CVRFs, can be used to predict RTW rates following cerebrovascular events.
Therefore, controlling hypertension, tobacco consumption and diabetes might
contribute to the effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation and/or
secondary/tertiary prevention programs for cerebrovascular disease.
CI - (c) The European Society of Cardiology 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS