Return to work after myocardial infarction: results of a longitudinal population based study.

Return to work was studied in all men who had entered the infarct register in the city of Ghent between 1983 and 1988 because of a first myocardial infarction before the age of 60 years. Information on work resumption was collected in 1991 using a postal survey; 78% of the 295 eligible subjects participated. Sixty-nine percent of all responders and 85% of all those who were at work before the infarct returned to work. Age, the perceived importance of the job, support from friends and the participation in a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programme were significantly related to work resumption.