An observational multi-centric COVID-19 sequelae study among health care workers

Shukla, Ajay Kumar; Atal, Shubham; Banerjee, Aman; Jhaj, Ratinder; Balakrishnan, Sadasivam; Chugh, Preeta Kaur; Xavier, Denis; Faruqui, Atiya; Singh, Abhishek; Raveendran, R; Mathaiyan, Jayanthi; Gauthaman, Jeevitha; Parmar, Urwashi; Tripathi, Raakhi K; Kamat, S. R.; Trivedi, Niyati; Shah, Prashant; Chauhan, Janki; Dikshit, Harihar; Mishra, Hitesh; Kumar, Rajiv; Badyal, Dinesh; Sharma, Monika; Singla, Mamta; Medhi, Bikash; Prakash, Ajay; Joshi, Rupa; Chatterjee, Nando K.; Cherian, Jerin Jose; Kamboj, V. P.; Kshirsagar, Nilima A

doi:10.1016/j.lansea.2022.100129

Cited by 18 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Although post-COVID-19 syndrome can also affect patients with a mild form of infection, the clinical characteristics of the acute form of infection and its severity are strictly related to the presence and severity of post-COVID-19 disorders; this relationship has already been demonstrated in previous large studies [19,36], and it was also found in our analysis. Dyspnea and fatigue during the acute phase of illness independently predicted the presence of post-COVID-19 disorders, while for each main post-COVID-19 symptom, having suffered from the same symptom during the acute phase of illness predicted its presence after recovery.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…After almost 3 years of the pandemic, COVID-19 infection and its long consequences are still relevant, especially in specific occupational contexts such as healthcare, whose workers are exposed to several occupational risks and are often overburdened. It is widely known that COVID-19 infection can result in several different ailments, denoted as post-COVID-19 symptoms or post-COVID-19 syndrome [8,36], which may last from several weeks to years [15]. These conditions challenge healthcare professionals' return to work [37] and can transform an infection that usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks into a long, complex illness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Instead, a history of pneumological diseases, such as asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), was independently related to post-COVID-19 dyspnea. In the literature, a wide range of comorbidities present at baseline assessment were associated with an increased risk of post-COVID-19 symptoms [38]; for example, associations with pre-existent medical conditions and post-COVID-19 syndrome were found for asthma and hypertension [36], and for COPD, for anxiety and depression [47]. In our sample, only post-COVID-19 dyspnea was associated with pre-existing pneumological diseases, while no other significant relationship was found with other comorbidities, which was probably due to the relatively good health of our population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physical Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Population of Italian Healthcare Workers

Lulli

Baldassarre

Chiarelli

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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SARS-CoV-2 infection often causes symptoms and illness that can last for months after the acute phase, i.e., so-called “Long COVID” or Post-acute COVID-19. Due to the high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among Healthcare Workers (HCWs), post-COVID-19 symptoms can be common and threaten workers’ occupational health and healthcare systems’ functioning. The aim of this cross-sectional, observational study was to present data related to post-COVID-19 outcomes in a population of HCWs infected by COVID-19 from October 2020 to April 2021, and to identify possible factors associated with the persistence of illness, such as gender, age, previous medical conditions, and features of acute illness. A total of 318 HCWs who had become infected by COVID-19 were examined and interviewed approximately two months after their recovery from the infection. The clinical examinations were performed by Occupational Physicians in accordance with a specific protocol at the Occupational Medicine Unit of a tertiary hospital in Italy. The mean age of the participants was 45 years old, and 66.7% of the workers were women while 33.3% were men; the sample mainly consisted of nurses (44.7%). During the medical examination, more than half of the workers mentioned that they had experienced multiple residual bouts of illness after the acute phase of infection. Men and women were similarly affected. The most reported symptom was fatigue (32.1%), followed by musculoskeletal pain (13.6%) and dyspnea (13.2%). In the multivariate analysis, dyspnea (p < 0.001) and fatigue (p < 0.001) during the acute stage of illness and the presence of any limitation in working activities, in the context of fitness for a work evaluation performed while the occupational medicine surveillance program was being conducted (p = 0.025), were independently associated with any post-COVID-19 symptoms, which were considered final outcomes. The main post-COVID-19 symptoms—dyspnea, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain—showed significant associations with dyspnea, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain experienced during the acute stage of infection, with the presence of limitations in working activities, and pre-existing pneumological diseases. A normal weight according to body mass index was a protective factor. The identification of vulnerable workers as those with limitations in working activities, pneumological diseases, a high BMI, and of an older age and the implementation of preventive measures are key factors for preserving Occupational Health. Fitness-to-work evaluations performed by Occupational Physicians can be considered a complex index of overall health and functionality that can identify workers who may suffer from relevant post-COVID-19 symptoms.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physical Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Population of Italian Healthcare Workers

Lulli

Baldassarre

Chiarelli

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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“…This study findings also show a higher risk of developing PACS compared with another study done in Brazil and India among healthcare workers, which showed a prevalence of 27.4% and 30.34%, respectively [ 23 , 35 ]. The prevalence difference between settings could be due to the study in Brazil involving a multicenter and a larger sample of 7051 healthcare workers.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Prevalence and predictors of post-acute COVID syndrome among infected healthcare workers at University Malaya Medical Centre

Lim,

Zaki

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Background Post Acute COVID Syndrome (PACS), a complex and poorly understood condition characterised by persistent symptoms following the acute phase of COVID-19 infection, has emerged as a significant global health concern. Healthcare workers who had been at the forefront of the pandemic response are at heightened risk of contracting the virus and subsequently developing PACS. Therefore, we aim to determine the prevalence and risk factors for PACS among healthcare workers infected with COVID-19. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2022 and August 2023 using an online REDCap electronic data capture tool questionnaire. PACS was defined as new or persistent symptoms lasting more than 28 days after a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction or rapid test kit antigen test. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine predictors associated with PACS. Results Among 609 infected healthcare workers, they were predominantly female (71.8%), Malays (84.6%), and aged 18–39 years (70.1%). 50.7% of infected healthcare workers experienced PACS. The most common PACS symptoms experienced were fatigue (27.9%), cough (25.1%), decreased physical strength (20.5%), and musculoskeletal pain (19.2%). Those who are more likely to develop PACS were females, underlying asthma, and COVID-19 severity category 3. On the other hand, those who received booster vaccinations were less likely to develop PACS. Conclusion PACS is prevalent among healthcare workers with COVID-19 at the University Malaya Medical Centre. These findings emphasise the critical need for those with higher risk to receive regular health monitoring and checkups to detect any early signs of PACS. It underscores the need for continuous support and healthcare interventions to mitigate the impacts of PACS and ensure the physical and mental well-being of healthcare workers.

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“…The reported frequency of myalgia and arthralgia is about 41% in small-sized cohorts of patients with Long COVID symptoms [ 51 ]. In a multicenter cross-sectional study, prevalence of arthralgia was about 5% in COVID-19 survivors, with overall prevalence of Long COVID about 30% [ 52 ]. Subjects with myalgia during acute COVID-19 had a higher chance of experiencing musculoskeletal pain later on (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.04–1.9) [ 51 ].…”

Section: Myalgia/arthralgia and Long Covidmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long COVID in autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Fedorchenko

Zimba

2023

Rheumatol Int

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Consequences of Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) in patients with rheumatic diseases (RDs) are clinically diverse. SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with various autoimmune and rheumatic manifestations over the past three years. Emerging evidence points to the possibility of Long COVID predisposition in rheumatic patients due to the changes in immune regulatory response. The aim of this article was to overview data on the pathobiology of Long COVID in patients with RDs. Related risk factors, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of Long COVID in RDs were analyzed. Relevant articles were retrieved from Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Diverse mechanisms of viral persistence, chronic low-grade inflammation, lasting production of autoantibodies, endotheliopathy, vascular complications, and permanent tissue damage have been described in association with Long COVID. Patients with RDs who survive COVID-19 often experience severe complications due to the immune disbalance resulting in multiple organ damage. Regular monitoring and treatment are warranted in view of the accumulating evidence.

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An observational multi-centric COVID-19 sequelae study among health care workers

Cited by 18 publications

References 25 publications

Physical Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Population of Italian Healthcare Workers

Physical Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Population of Italian Healthcare Workers

Prevalence and predictors of post-acute COVID syndrome among infected healthcare workers at University Malaya Medical Centre

Long COVID in autoimmune rheumatic diseases

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