The objectives of this study were to describe the perceived work performance of patients previously diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to determine the relationship between patient-specific variables and perceived work performance. This cross-sectional study utilized a mailed survey to all patients discharged from a university affiliated hospital with the diagnosis of ACS during a 3-year period. Perceived work performance was measured using the Work Performance Scale (WPS). Independent variables included health status (SF-8, PCS-8, MCS-8 and EQ-5D visual analog scale), cardiac functional status (Duke activity status index), symptom count, comorbidity index, patient-perceived cardiac disease severity, medication count and compliance, job satisfaction, current employment duration, patient demographics and ACS type. Step-wise multivariate linear regression models determined the independent variables with significant association (p < 0.05) to WPS. Of 1,217 patients surveyed, 490 (40%) responded, including 158 currently working (study sample). The regression model with the highest explanatory ability (r(2) = 0.29) included number of symptoms, age, perceived cardiac severity and PCS-8, with more symptoms, higher perceived severity, higher age and lower PCS-8 scores associated with lower WPS. Currently employed ACS patients report a high level of work performance. Symptom burden, perceived disease severity, age and physical function appear to be associated with perceived work performance.
Copyright 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.