Aims Microvascular complications' risk differs between people with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and people with type 2 diabetes. We aimed to investigate whether the prevalence of cardiac autonomic neuropathy, a life‐threatening complication of diabetes, also varies depending on diabetes type. Methods In this cross‐sectional study, 43 adults with LADA, 80 with type 1 diabetes and 61 with type 2 diabetes were screened for cardiac autonomic neuropathy with recommended tests. Logistic regression models were used to test differences between diabetes types adjusting for confounders. Results Cardiac autonomic neuropathy was diagnosed in 17 (40%) participants with LADA, 21 (26%) participants with type 1 diabetes and 39 (64%) participants with type 2 diabetes (p < 0.001). The odds ratio (OR) for cardiac autonomic neuropathy in type 1 diabetes and in type 2 diabetes compared to LADA were 0.54 (95% CI: 0.25–1.20, p‐value: 0.13) and 2.71 (95% CI: 1.21–6.06, p‐value 0.015) respectively. Smoking (adjOR 3.09, 95% CI: 1.40–6.82, p‐value: 0.005), HDL cholesterol (adjOR 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09–0.93, p‐value: 0.037) and hypertension (adjOR 2.11, 95% CI: 1.05–4.24, p‐value: 0.037) were independent modifiable risk factors for cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Differences among diabetes types did not change after correction for confounders. Conclusions This is the first study offering a comparative evaluation of cardiac autonomic neuropathy among LADA, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, showing a lower risk of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in LADA compared to type 2 diabetes and similar compared to type 1 diabetes. This disparity was not due to differences in age, metabolic control or cardiovascular risk factors.

Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome is frequently observed in workers and has a substantial impact on work ability. We conducted a health promotion program to identify cases of post-COVID syndrome, analyze the distribution of symptoms and their association with work ability. Of the 1422 workers who underwent routine medical examination in 2021, 1378 agreed to participate. Among the latter, 164 had contracted SARS-CoV-2 and 115 (70% of those who were infected) had persistent symptoms. A cluster analysis showed that most of the post-COVID syndrome cases were characterized by sensory disturbances (anosmia and dysgeusia) and fatigue (weakness, fatigability, tiredness). In one-fifth of these cases, additional symptoms included dyspnea, tachycardia, headache, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and muscle aches. Workers with post-COVID were found to have poorer quality sleep, increased fatigue, anxiety, depression, and decreased work ability compared with workers whose symptoms had rapidly disappeared. It is important for the occupational physician to diagnose post-COVID syndrome in the workplace since this condition may require a temporary reduction in work tasks and supportive treatment.

Syncope and presyncope episodes that occur during work could affect one’s safety and impair occupational performance. Few data are available regarding the prevalence of these events among workers. The possible role of sleep quality, mental stress, and metabolic disorders in promoting syncope, presyncope, and falls in workers is unknown. In the present study, 741 workers (male 35.4%; mean age 47 ± 11 years), employed at different companies, underwent clinical evaluation and blood tests, and completed questionnaires to assess sleep quality, occupational distress, and mental disorders. The occurrence of syncope, presyncope, and unexplained falls during working life was assessed via an ad hoc interview. The prevalence of syncope, presyncope, and falls of unknown origin was 13.9%, 27.0%, and 10.3%, respectively. The occurrence of syncope was associated with an increased risk of occupational distress (adjusted odds ratio aOR: 1.62, confidence intervals at 95%: 1.05–2.52), low sleep quality (aOR: 1.79 CI 95%: 1.16–2.77), and poor mental health (aOR: 2.43 CI 95%: 1.52–3.87). Presyncope was strongly associated with occupational distress (aOR: 1.77 CI 95%: 1.25–2.49), low sleep quality (aOR: 2.95 CI 95%: 2.08–4.18), and poor mental health (aOR: 2.61 CI 95%: 1.78–3.84), while no significant relationship was found between syncope or presyncope and metabolic syndrome. These results suggest that occupational health promotion interventions aimed at improving sleep quality, reducing stressors, and increasing worker resilience might reduce syncope and presyncope events in the working population.

Exposure to major trauma can have significant consequences for workers’ mental health, but common trauma may also result in poor mental health outcomes. This cross-sectional study retrospectively investigated the occurrence of common physical or psychological workplace trauma in 901 health, social service, and trading company workers and studied these experiences in relation to occupational stress, anxiety, and depression. Stress was measured with the effort/reward imbalance (ERI) model while anxiety and depression were evaluated with the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS). Healthcare workers reported a high frequency of trauma and significantly higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression than other workers. Even in the entire population of workers of the various professional categories, verbal violence (harassment and threats), traffic accidents, home injuries, and family bereavement were significantly associated with high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Major trauma survivors are known to be at increased risk of mental disorders and require support in the workplace, however, even minor repeated emotional trauma and injuries can affect mental health. During mandatory health surveillance, the occupational physician should systematically collect information on minor trauma and mental health outcomes when assessing the occupational fitness of the workers assigned to him.

A case–control study including 446 workers reporting headaches (cases; 136 males and 310 females, mean age 46.71 ± 10.84 years) and 446 age- and sex-matched colleagues without headaches (controls; mean age 45.44 ± 10.13) was conducted in the second half of 2020 in a sample drawn from socio health and commercial services companies to investigate the association of headache with lifestyle, metabolic, and work-related factors. Workers suffering from headache reported higher body weight (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.46–2.53, p < 0.001), higher blood cholesterol (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.46–2.77, p < 0.001), triglyceride (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.20–3.35, p < 0.01), blood glucose (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.16–3.24, p < 0.01), and blood pressure levels (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.23–2.52, p < 0.01). In the year preceding the survey, cases had experienced a higher frequency of workplace violence (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.25–4.20, p < 0.01 for physical aggression, OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.45–3.41, p < 0.001 for threat, OR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.72–4.38, p < 0.001 for harassment) and were more frequently distressed (effort/reward ratio > 1) (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.39–2.40, p < 0.001) than the controls. Compared to the controls, cases also had higher scores on anxiety and depression scales, lower scores on happiness, and lower levels of sleep quality (p < 0.001). The association of headaches with metabolic and mental health problems suggests that monitoring headaches in the workplace could help to identify workers at risk of impairment.