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Background: Cardiovascular diseases, with myocardial infarction (MI) on the leading position, remain a serious health care issue and socio-economic burden. Nevertheless, factors influencing the return of patients to the professional activity are not fully understood. Cardiac rehabilitation may have a positive impact on the return to professional activity after MI. However, no study among participants in the comprehensive care after myocardial infarction (CCMI) model (in Polish: "KOS-zawał") evaluated this issue so far. The aim of the study was to evaluate factors influencing the return to work and duration of the sick leave after MI among patients who participated in the CCMI in a single reference cardiology centre in Poland., Material and Methods: In total, 144 patients were screened retrospectively. Out of them, 105 were included in the analysis. All patients were treated with direct percutaneous coronary intervention according to current European Society of Cardiology guidelines and participated in cardiac rehabilitation within the CCMI program, therefore had been provided optimal and modern therapeutic approach. Data was collected based on patients' medical records and information furnished by the insurer., Results: Out of 105 patients analysed, 93 (88,6%) returned to work. A positive predictor of returning to work was male sex. Predictors of a prolonged return to work were older age and female sex. Completing rehabilitation, anthropometric factors, biochemical factors or results of post-MI echocardiographic examination did not influence the return to professional activity., Conclusions: A relatively large percentage of patients after MI and in the CCMI program returns to professional activity. Main factors of prolonged sick leave are older age and female sex. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2024;75(6):501-510., (This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.)

Objectives: To assess dietary supplements, functional foods and nutraceuticals use among the patients after myocardial infarction (MI)., Material and Methods: The authors prospectively enrolled 100 consecutive patients hospitalized due to MI and remaining under coordinated outpatient care after MI in the authors' cardiology department., Results: The authors showed that patients within median (interquartile range) 12.30 (10.18-14.57) months after MI use dietary supplements, nutraceuticals and functional foods in their everyday diet. Vitamins (53% patients), especially vitamin D (35%), were the most frequently used dietary supplements. In contrary to common usage of dietary supplements (59%), smaller proportion of patients use functional foods (21%) and nutraceuticals (5%), especially phytosterols. The authors found that the use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and dietary supplements is associated with age (participants <60 years old vs. participants ≥60 years old: OTC drugs: N = 8 [20.0%] vs. N = 32 [53.3%], p < 0.001; herbals: N = 3 [7.5%] vs. N = 16 [26.7%], p = 0.019), sex of the patients following MI (females vs. males: vitamins: N = 17 [70.8%] vs. N = 36 [47,4%], p = 0.045; vitamin D: N = 13 [54.2%] vs. N = 22 [28.9%], p = 0.024; omega-3 fatty acids: N = 3 [12.5%] vs. N = 1 [1.3%], p = 0.042; herbals: N = 8 [33.3%] vs. N = 11[14.5%], p = 0.040), as well as the BMI of the participants (BMI < 24.9 vs. BMI ≥ 25.0: multivitamin/ multimineral dietary supplements: N = 3 [15.0%] vs. N = 31 [42.5%], p = 0.035; vitamin B 6 : N = 1 [5.0%] vs. N = 21 [28.8%], p = 0.035). In the study group all participants with the age above retirement age have already withdrawn from professional activity and they more often used OTC drugs (N = 14 [25.9%] before retirement age vs. N = 26 [56.5%] above retirement age, p = 0.002)., Conclusions: The patients following MI use supplements, functional foods and nutraceuticals. Their use depends on sex, age, BMI and professional activity. The authors believe that their potential beneficial effects require further evaluation in clinical longitudinal studies. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(6):732-43., (This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.)