Hospitalization, death, and probable reinfection in Peruvian healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2: a national retrospective cohort study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the occupation is a risk factor for probable reinfection, hospitalization, and death from COVID 19 in Peruvian healthcare workers infected with SARS CoV2. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Healthcare workers who presented SARS CoV 2 infection between March 1, 2020, and August 9, 2021, were included. Occupational cohorts were reconstructed from the following sources of information: the National Epidemiological Surveillance System, molecular tests (NETLAB), results of serology and antigen tests (SICOVID 19), National Registry of Health Personnel (INFORHUS), and National Information System of Deaths (SINADEF). The incidence of probable reinfection, hospitalization, and death from COVID 19 was obtained in the cohorts of health auxiliaries and technicians, nursing staff, obstetricians, physicians, and other healthcare workers. Using a log-binomial generalized linear model, we evaluated whether the occupation was a risk factor for probable reinfection, hospitalization, and death from COVID 19, obtaining the adjusted relative risk (RR AJ). RESULTS: 90,672 healthcare workers were included. 8.1% required hospitalization, 1.7% died from COVID 19, and 2.0% had probable reinfection. A similar incidence of probable reinfection was found in the 5 cohorts (1.9% to 2.2%). Physicians had a higher incidence of hospitalization (13.2%) and death (2.6%); however, they were also those who presented greater susceptibility linked to non-occupational variables such as age and comorbidities. The multivariate analysis found that physicians (RR=1.691; CI 95: 1.556 to 1.837) had a higher risk of hospitalization and that the occupation of health technician and the assistant was the only one that constituted a risk factor for mortality from COVID-19 (RR =1.240; 95% CI: 1.052 to 1.463). CONCLUSIONS: Peruvian health technicians and auxiliaries have a higher risk of death from COVID-19 linked to their occupation, while doctors have higher mortality due to non-occupational factors. Physicians had a higher risk of hospitalization independent of the presence of comorbidities and age; likewise, all occupations had a similar risk of probable reinfection.