Who among patients with acquired brain injury returned to work after occupational rehabilitation? The rapid-return-to-work-cohort-study

AbstractBackground: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is known to be severely disabling. On average, 40% of employees return to work (RTW) within two years after injury. There is, however, limited research on what might contribute to successful RTW.Aim: To examine factors that might impact the time-to first RTW for patients with ABI, participating in a RTW-program.Methods: The study was designed as a cohort study of patients on sick leave due to mild or moderate ABI (n = 137). The mean age of the patients was 51 years, and 58% were men. The most common diagnoses were stroke (75%) and traumatic brain injury (12%). Data were collected through questionnaires, and combined with register data on sickness absence. Survival analyses were used to analyse the effect of different variables on time to first RTW (full or partial), at one- and two-year follow-up.Results: Generally, women (HR = 0.447; CI: 0.239–0.283) had higher RTW-rates than men, and patients with non-comorbid impairments returned to work earlier than pati...