Myocardial infarction and subsequent reemployment in Syracuse, New York.

Abstract

Interviews were conducted with 83 males, residents of Syracuse, who had survived a myocardial infarction during the 18 months from January, 1964 to June, 1965. These interviews were completed during the summer of 1965. Approximately 80% of the sample returned to work with a minimum of difficulties; of the others, several were still recovering from the acute state of their difficulties and were unsure of their eventual status. These factors make it difficult to determine the extent of which any unemployment can be said to be the direct result of only the myocardial infarction. The difficulties of returning to work include problems for anyone given today''s economic conditions. Educational level was related to the ease with which patients returned to work and the skills with which they were equipped. Those with lower blue-collar skills displayed the greatest difficulties in returning to work. Skilled upper white-collar and upper blue-collar patients were similarly able to return to jobs, at rates slightly higher than lower white-collar employees. The process of returning to work for these patients seems to involve the informal social mechanisms used by the individual rather than the service agencies which might have been utilized. None of these patients report getting anty help at all from local service agencies and only very few sought help. Methodological difficulties are discussed with the clear implication that more elaborate social science technics and financial resources must be provided in order to isolate and remove some of the factors that contribute to the unemployment of cardiac patients.