Changes in occupation after aortocoronary vein-bypass operation.

The effect of aortocoronary vein-bypass operation on changes in occupational status was investigated in a cohort of 893 men. The median period of time between the operation and follow-up evaluation of postoperative occupational status was 14 months. The patients were divided into two age groups, with 55 years as the dividing point. The results showed that 11% of the younger men and 26% of the older group who were employed before the operation retired following the operation. In addition, 30% of the patients changed their occupational status following the operation. When occupational changes also resulted in changes in physical demands, 49% of the patients took new jobs that were less demanding physically, while 40% took jobs that were more demanding. Close to 9% of the patients were retired prior to the operation; about one fifth of them came out of retirement following the operation.