Cardiovascular Risk among Healthcare Workers in DCH and DCHC Hospitals during COVID-19 Duty: Correlation of Stress Score with Blood Pressure and Lipid Profile

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCW’s) are at the frontline of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, participating directly in the diagnosis and treatment of Coronavirus patients for the past two years. This puts them at a larger risk of causing long-term stress, mental anguish, and other negative psychological impacts. Aim: To evaluate stress score, serum lipid profile and blood pressure in a Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH) and Dedicated COVID Health centre (DCHC) among HCWs, and to correlate the perception of psychological stress with serum lipid profile. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based crosssectional study conducted from the month of March 2021 to August 2021. Seventy-five HCWs (35 men and 40 women) from DCH and DCHC were included in this study. In these participants, socio-demographic and perceived stress, serum lipid profile was measured. The studied population was divided into two groups: Group A (HCWs in direct contact with COVID-19 patients) and Group B (HCWs not in direct contacts with patients). Stress scores, serum lipid levels, systolic and diastolic Blood Pressure (SBP and DBP) of all the participants were measured and compared with that of controls, using Student’s t-test. Stress scores of HCWs in direct contact with patients were correlated with SBP and DBP and serum lipid profile by using Pearson correlation coefficient (r). Results: Stress levels were significantly higher in Group A (p>0.05), but serum lipid levels were not significant. Stress levels of Group A were found to correlate strongly with blood Total Cholesterol (TC), (p<0.001) serum Triglyceride (TG), (p<0.01) High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL), LDL/HDL, and SBP and DBP (p<0.001). Conclusion: Stress scores were elevated in HCWs in direct contact with patients (Group A) and these strongly correlate with serum lipid levels and BP. The health authorities are responsible for implementation of strategies to manage this psychological stress.