ABSTRACT
In industrialized countries, coronary artery disease (CAD) accounts for more deaths, disability, and economic loss than any other disease entity.1 In the United States
alone, CAD is responsible for more than 20% of all deaths2 and accounts for over $350 billion in direct and indirect costs (e.g., wage replacement and lost productivity).2,3 While CAD remains the leading cause of morbidity and disability, the death rate from myocardial infarction (MI) has declined signifi cantly in the past 30 years. Whether the increased numbers of survivors return to gainful employment has an enormous social and economic implication for both the individual and society. The return to gainful employment is a major goal for many patients and aiding these patients in returning to work is an often-considered important outcome measure of the cost-effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation programs.
