Clinical Symptom Patterns as Predictors of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Healthcare Workers in Puerto Rico

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, presents significant risks to healthcare workers (HCWs) globally.
• Understanding infection prevalence and risk factors among HCWs is crucial for implementing effective occupational health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs at a specific hospital.
• To investigate the relationship between demographic and clinical characteristics, particularly symptoms, and COVID-19 infection in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 132 HCWs at the University of Puerto Rico Adult Hospital.
• Data collection included demographic information, clinical symptoms, and SARS-CoV-2 testing.
• Statistical analysis, including odds ratios (OR), was used to identify significant associations.

Main Results:

• The overall infection prevalence was 4.55% (6 out of 132 participants).
• Symptomatic individuals had a significantly higher infection rate (7.4%) compared to asymptomatic ones (p < 0.001).
• Specific symptoms such as muscle pain (OR=21.04), taste loss (OR=24.20), smell loss (OR=15.25), and fever (OR=20.50) were strongly associated with infection.

Conclusions:

• Symptom-based monitoring is valuable for identifying potential COVID-19 cases among HCWs in occupational settings.
• While not statistically significant in this study, men showed higher odds of infection.
• Limitations include a single-site design, small sample size, self-reported data, and potential underestimation due to early pandemic diagnostic limitations.