Return to work after stroke: A Swedish nationwide registry‐based study

Abstract

ObjectivesA substantial proportion of individuals with stroke are of working age. After stroke, it is important to return to work (RTW), both for the individual's satisfaction with life and economically for society. The current comprehensive, long‐term study aimed at investigating in what time period the RTW continues after stroke and what factors could predict RTW.Materials and methodsAll individuals registered in the registry Riksstroke with stroke in Sweden at ages 18‐58 years during 2011 were eligible for participation. RTW was based on sickness absence data from the Social Insurance Agency covering 1 year prestroke to 5 years post‐stroke. Time to RTW was analyzed with Kaplan‐Meier curves. Potential predictors of RTW were analyzed with Cox regression and logistic regression.ResultsFor RTW analyses, 1695 participants were included. Almost 50% RTW within 3 months, 70% within 1 year, and 80% within 2 years post‐stroke. However, the RTW continued for several years, with a total of 85% RTW. Predictors of favorable time to RTW were male sex, ischemic stroke, and long university education compared with primary school education. Predictors of unfavorable times to RTW were higher stroke severity, defined by the level of consciousness, and older ages. Participants with self‐expectations of RTW 1 year post‐stroke had higher odds of RTW within 5 years.ConclusionsThe RTW continues for a longer time after stroke than previously known. Both self‐expectations and demographical, socioeconomic, stroke‐related factors were important predictors of RTW. This knowledge could assist healthcare professionals to individualize the rehabilitation post‐stroke.

Stroke survivors’ priorities for research related to life after stroke

“…13 Post-stroke fatigue is one of the most disabling symptoms in stroke survivors; it reduces the quality of life, increases mortality, and is a barrier to stroke rehabilitation, and has also been shown to affect patients' return to working life. 14,15 In addition, health professionals still lack a regimen or a coping strategy to equip the patient with at discharge from hospital. 16 Efficient management of post-stroke fatigue should be a priority in stroke rehabilitation given the incidence of stroke and the prevalence and detrimental impact of poststroke fatigue on independent living and overall survival.…”

Fitting the task to a person with disabilities: A case of return-to-work support for a patient due to left-sided poststroke hemiplegia using tailor-made jigs-and-tools

“…1 In particular, if a working-age person suffers a stroke, the poststroke effects may reduce work performance. 2 Recently in Japan, Saeki et al reported that the proportion of stroke survivors who have had a successful return-to-work (RTW) experience has remained static at 45% for the past 20 years. 3 According to previous studies, important factors associated with RTW and stroke are gender, age, enterprise size, education level, stroke severity, and comorbidity.…”

“…3 According to previous studies, important factors associated with RTW and stroke are gender, age, enterprise size, education level, stroke severity, and comorbidity. 2,4,5 In addition, the potentiality of RTW after hospital discharge was reported to be influenced by impairments and occupation. 6 In particular, poststroke survivors have residual impairments in the upper and lower limbs (hemiparesis), which are important factors related to RTW.…”

Stroke in young adults in Malaysia: 1 year outcome and functional status

“…Lower educational level is an independent predictor of RTW during the early post-stroke years in Sweden and Korea. [30][31][32] The increased odds of those with lesser education not returning to work implies types of occupation affected (white vs blue collar) and the correlating job demands and possible job modifications. A physicalfocused occupation may not have much room for modification to accommodate the stroke survivor's abilities.…”