The risk of COVID-19 infection in medical workers of a clinical hospital during a pandemic

Abstract

In occupational health, scientists view the COVID-19 as a biological factor that can occur not only in the environment, but also in industrial conditions. In this regard, the spread of a new coronavirus infection requires addressing issues of preserving and strengthening the health of medical workers who make up the risk group. The study aims to assess the risk of COVID–19 infection during the pandemic in medical workers of a clinical hospital, depending on working conditions and the degree of contact with infectious patients. The object of the study was medical workers of the state budgetary healthcare institution of the Moscow region. The total number of medical workers amounted to 495 people. According to the degree of probability of medical workers' contact with an infectious agent, the following groups were identified: a high–risk zone of infection; an average risk zone of infection; a comparison group — a group that did not come into contact with patients with COVID-19. Within each of the above groups, three production and professional groups were formed: doctors; secondary medical personnel; junior medical personnel. The authors studied the frequency of temporary disability due to COVID-19 in medical workers who performed their professional duties during the pandemic. To assess the risk of infection of medical workers with COVID-19, they calculated the relative risk (RR). The study showed that the incidence of temporary disability among medical personnel during the pandemic period was 64.6±2.1 per 100 employees. Morbidity rates with temporary disability in the group of doctors who performed work duties in the high-risk area of COVID-19 infection amounted to 60.9±10.2 and in the medium-risk area of COVID-19 infection 63.2±4.0, which is significantly higher compared to workers in the comparison group 40.0±8.9 who had no contact with infectious patients. At the time of the study, the presence of a history of chronic diseases of the circulatory system in medical workers increases the risk of infection with COVID-19 (OR=3.9 with DI=2.62–5.78). The presence of chronic diseases of the endocrine system, eating disorders and metabolic disorders also increases the risk of COVID-19 infection (OR=3.3 with DI=2.08–5.13). The data obtained as a result of the performed study indicate an increased risk of infection for doctors employed in areas of high and medium risk of COVID-19 infection, which are the most vulnerable professional group. Limitations. The present study requires further study of the issue and verification of the data obtained due to the limited observation period. Ethics. All medical workers have given informed consent to the use of personal data for statistical processing.