COVID-19 in healthcare workers in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil: clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with death and hospitalization.

Rodolfo Antonio Corona,Arthur Arantes Da Cunha

doi:10.31744/einstein_journal/2022ao6241

Rodolfo Antonio Corona, Arthur Arantes Da Cunha

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.31744/einstein_journal/2022ao6241

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Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective To analyze clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with death and hospitalization of healthcare workers due to COVID-19, in addition to calculating the incidence rates per profession.Methods A cross-sectional observational study using secondary open data from the State Health Department of Espírito Santo (ES), Brazil. The cases of COVID-19 in healthcare workers were recorded between February 27 and August 17, 2020, in Espírito Santo, excluding cases with missing information.Results Of the confirmed cases, 75.6% (n=9,191) were female. The overall case fatality rate was 0.27% and the general hospitalization rate was 0.99%. The clinical outcome of death and the occurrence of hospitalization were associated with male sex, age ≥50 years, higher education, fever, difficulty breathing, cough, cardiac comorbidity, diabetes and obesity (p<0.05). Only the occurrence of hospitalization was associated with case reported in the metropolitan region of Vitória, runny nose, sore throat, headache and renal comorbidity (p<0.05). The profession with the highest incidence rate was nurse (16,053.2 cases/100,000 nurses).Conclusion The study demonstrated high frequency of cases among women, low overall case fatality rate, and high incidence in nurses.

Highlights

The pandemic of the new coronavirus affected the routines and habits of millions of people across the planet in 2020
First reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the pathogen causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).(1,2) In the following months, the virus spread to all continents, reaching 188 countries by September 2020, and causing more than 1 million deaths worldwide.[3]. This high rate of dissemination was mainly attributed to the fact that the virus initially infects the cells of the respiratory system, allowing the affected individual to spread infectious viral particles through respiratory secretion into the environment.[4,5]
This workforce is not homogeneous, for there is a diversity of demographic characteristics and different levels and courses of professional training, which determine different forms and degrees of exposure.[11]. In addition to the constant concern of becoming ill, these professionals work under extensive stress loads, caused mainly by work overload, fear of infecting a family member, and lack of Protective Equipment (PPE) and training to reduce the risk of infection during the care of patients suspected or confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2.(11,12)

Summary

Introduction

The pandemic of the new coronavirus affected the routines and habits of millions of people across the planet in 2020. With the absence of vaccines and specific treatments proven to be efficient, the strategies of residential isolation and social distancing emerged as effective means to control the dissemination and, to maintain the flow of critical care, according to the care capacity of the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS - Sistema Único de Saúde).(9) this measure, in many cases, is not suitable for health workers, because, in the context of the pandemic, there was an increased demand for these professionals.[10] In this sense, healthcare professionals are a group at greater risk of being affected by COVID-19, since these workers have a higher degree of exposure to the virus, both in relation to contact with infected patients and viral load. Knowledge of the characteristics that make up the profile of the affected worker, and the rates of involvement of different groups of workers, as well as clinical and demographic factors related to the worsening of the clinical picture, favor the implementation of specific infection control measures for certain professional groups, to mitigate the route of transmission of SARs-CoV-2 and protect the health of healthcare workers

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