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COVID-19 as the occupational disease in employees of the University Hospital Ostrava
Silvie Ostřížková1, Daniela Vybíralová1, Zdeňka Hajduková1,2
1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
Insights
Healthcare workers (HCW) face higher risks of severe COVID-19, especially those with chronic respiratory disease, women, and older individuals. Identifying these occupational disease risk factors is crucial for targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- COVID-19 poses a significant threat to healthcare systems globally.
- Healthcare workers (HCW) are at an elevated risk of contracting COVID-19.
- This study focuses on HCW seeking recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and evaluate a cohort of hospital employees who applied for occupational disease recognition for COVID-19.
- To identify disease characteristics and risk factors for severe COVID-19 cases among HCW.
- To inform targeted preventive measures for vulnerable HCW populations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of medical records for 474 claimants (March 2020 - November 2022).
- Statistical evaluation using Fisher's exact test, Pearson's chi-square test, and logistic regression.
- Assessment of disease characteristics, symptoms, and risk factors for severe COVID-19.
Main Results:
- Most cases occurred between September and November 2020.
- Common symptoms included fever (81.4%), loss of smell (75.1%), and dry cough (74.3%).
- 15.4% experienced severe COVID-19; 76.8% had pre-existing chronic conditions. Risk of severe disease increased with chronic conditions (p=0.017), chronic respiratory disease (2.75x), female sex (~3x), and older age.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare workers, particularly those with chronic respiratory disease, women, and older individuals, are at heightened risk for severe COVID-19.
- Identifying these risk factors is essential for developing effective preventive strategies.
- Early interventions are needed to protect HCW and mitigate severe outcomes from occupational COVID-19 exposure.
Objectives:
COVID-19 disease, which has caused a global pandemic, poses significant threat to the healthcare system as healthcare workers (HCW) are at an elevated risk of contracting the disease and being temporarily removed from their regular duties. This study analyses and evaluates a cohort of employees at the University Hospital Ostrava (UHO) who applied for the recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease.
Methods:
The disease characteristics and risk factors for severe cases of COVID-19 were analysed for all 474 claimants who applied for recognition of an occupational disease during the reporting period (March 2020 to November 2022) and were obtained from medical records. Statistical evaluation was performed using Fisher's exact test, Pearson's chi-square test and logistic regression analysis.
Results:
The largest number of diseases was objectified in the period from September to November 2020. The most frequently reported symptoms were subfebrilia or febrilia (81.4%), olfactory dysfunction (75.1%), and dry cough (74.3%). A severe course of COVID-19 was experienced by 15.4% of the cohort. Additionally, 76.8% reported having at least one chronic disease. The risk of severe course was found to increase with the number of chronic diseases (p = 0.017). Individuals with chronic respiratory disease (CRD) had a 2.75-fold increased risk, and women had an approximately threefold increased risk. Higher risk was also associated with increasing age.
Conclusions:
Healthcare workers face a heightened risk of severe COVID-19, particularly among those with CRD, women and older age. Identifying these risk factors underscores the need for targeted preventive measures and early interventions to protect this vulnerable group and reduce the incidence of severe outcomes.
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