Clinical Characteristics and Potential Risk Factors Associated with the Sars-CoV-2 Infection

Survey on a Health Care Workers (HCWs) Population in Northern Italy

Bibliographic Data

ID15487160
AuthorsViola Novelli (0000-0002-3341-2533, Policlinico San Matteo Fondazione), Federico Fassio (0000-0002-7252-4917, University of Pavia, corresponding author), Guido Resani (University of Pavia), Martino Bussa (0000-0001-9566-9628, University of Pavia), Alessandro Durbano (Policlinico San Matteo Fondazione), Alessandro Meloni (0000-0003-0501-958X, University of Pavia), Giovanni Oliva (University of Pavia), Sara Cutti (0000-0002-1955-8544, Policlinico San Matteo Fondazione), Daniela Girardi (0000-0002-4630-4793, University of Pavia), Anna Odone (0000-0002-5657-9774, University of Pavia), Simona Villani (0000-0003-2517-6515, University of Pavia), Carlo Marena (Policlinico San Matteo Fondazione), A Muzzi (0000-0002-8542-785X, Policlinico San Matteo Fondazione), Maria Cristina Monti (0000-0003-1586-527X, University of Pavia)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue13
Pages8194-8194
Publication date2022-07-04
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19138194
PMID35805853
OpenAlexW4283803250
LanguageEN
References cited30

During the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 400 million cases all over the world have been identified. Health care workers were among the first to deal with this virus and consequently a high incidence of infection was reported in this population. The aim of the survey was to investigate health care workers' (HCWs) clinical characteristics and potential risk factors associated with the SARS-CoV-2 infection in a referral hospital in Northern Italy after the first and second waves of the pandemic. We administered a questionnaire during the flu vaccination campaign that took place at the end of 2020; among 1386 vaccinated HCWs, data was collected and analyzed for 1065 subjects. 182 HCWs (17%) declared that they had tested positive on at least a molecular or a serological test since the beginning of the pandemic. Comparing the infected vs. not infected HCWs, median age, BMI, smoking habit, presence of hypertension or other comorbidities were not significantly different, while having worked in a COVID ward was associated with the infection (OR adj = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.07-2.20). Respondents declared that more than 70% of contacts occurred in the hospital with patients or colleagues, while about 15% in domestic environments. Among the infected, the most reported symptoms were fever (62.1%), asthenia (60.3%), anosmia/ageusia (53.5%), arthralgia/myalgia (48.3%), headache or other neurological symptoms (46.6%), cough (43.1%) and flu-like syndrome (41.4%). The percentage of subjects who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 seems to be higher in HCWs than in the general population; hence, in hospitals, protective measures and preventive strategies to avoid the spreading of the contagion remain crucial

Anosmia · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Environmental health · Family medicine · Health care · Incidence (geometry · myalgia · Pandemic · Population · Vaccination · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 · Medicine · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research · Immunology · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics

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