{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,29]],"date-time":"2026-07-29T22:25:56Z","timestamp":1785363956266,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,22]],"date-time":"2025-12-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1766361600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Life"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: This study explored facilitators and barriers to return to work (RTW) after acute cardiovascular events or elective cardiac surgery, integrating clinical, functional, and occupational factors. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Occupational Medicine and Cardiac Rehabilitation Units of the Maggiore Hospital in Trieste, Italy. Employed adults (18\u201367 years) admitted for acute coronary syndrome, valve replacement, or thoracic aortic surgery between January 2024 and July 2025 were enrolled. Sociodemographic, clinical, and occupational data were collected alongside functional and psychosocial assessments, including the Work Ability Index (WAI) and EQ-5D-5L. Predictors of RTW were analyzed with Cox regression models. Results: Among 103 patients (mean age 56.8 years; 92.2% male), 77.7% returned to work after a mean of 58.9 days. Independent predictors of earlier RTW were self-employment (HR 5.08, 95% CI 2.52\u201310.27), occupational responsibility (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.01\u20134.45), and percutaneous coronary intervention (HR 2.72, 95% CI 1.47\u20135.06). Higher job-related physical demands, arrhythmias, and cardiac rehabilitation participation were associated with delayed RTW. Mean WAI (37.2 \u00b1 5.1) and EQ-5D index (0.92 \u00b1 0.09; EQ-VAS 77.4 \u00b1 12.9) indicated preserved function and quality of life. Conclusions: RTW after cardiovascular events is multifactorial. Integrating occupational medicine into cardiac rehabilitation is key to ensuring safe, sustainable reintegration.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/life16010019","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,22]],"date-time":"2025-12-22T16:19:26Z","timestamp":1766420366000},"page":"19","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Optimising Return to Work for Cardiovascular Patients: An Interdisciplinary Approach in Occupational Medicine and Cardiology"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-3427-1102","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Donatella","family":"Sansone","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"UOC Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34129 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6258-2948","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonella","family":"Cherubini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cardiovascular Center, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina (ASUGI), 34122 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fabiano","family":"Barbiero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34129 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marina","family":"Bollini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cardiovascular Center, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina (ASUGI), 34122 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1317-3448","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marcella","family":"Mauro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UOC Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34129 Trieste, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34129 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andrea","family":"Di Lenarda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cardiovascular Center, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina (ASUGI), 34122 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4788-9076","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesca","family":"Rui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34129 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6285-7355","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luca","family":"Cegolon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34129 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7717-0417","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesca","family":"Larese Filon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UOC Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34129 Trieste, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34129 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2025, November 15). 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