Predictors of severe COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Sabah, Malaysia

Joo, Lim Kai; Sazali, Mohd Fazeli; Goroh, Michelle; Zefong, Abraham Chin; Maluda, Marilyn Charlene Montini; Avoi, Richard; Gantul, Valentine Japulee

doi:10.1186/s12913-022-08920-4

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 38 publications

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“…A 2021 study by Joo et al documented an increased risk for severe COVID-19 in Malaysian HCWs with underlying comorbidities. 33 When HCWs are vulnerable to adverse health outcomes during an infectious disease outbreak it weakens the health systems' response to and recovery from public health emergencies. This significant threat to the resilience of health systems highlights the imperative need for strategies to mitigate against the vulnerability of HCWs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association between non-communicable diseases and COVID-19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries: a cohort study

Tejan,

Ashubwe,

Beglaryan

et al. 2024

F1000Res

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Background Due to occupational exposure, healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19) infection than the general population. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) may increase the risk of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality among HCWs, potentially reducing the available health workforce. We examined the association between NCDs and COVID-19 disease severity and mortality among infected HCWs. Methods This cohort study used data from the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) database. HCWs hospitalized between January 2020 and January 2023 due to clinically suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were eligible for inclusion. Variables collected included demographic data, comorbidities, and hospitalization outcomes. Descriptive statistics were reported using mean/standard deviation (SD), median/interquartile range (IQR), or frequencies and proportions. For each NCD, the relative risk of death, adjusted for age and sex, was calculated using log-binomial regression as well as the population-attributable fraction. Results There were 17,502 HCWs, 95.7% of whom had a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. The majority were female (66.5%) and the mean age (SD) was 49.8 (14.3) years. Roughly, half (51.42%) of HCWs had no comorbidities, 29.28% had one comorbidity, 14.68% had 2 comorbidities and <5% had ≥3 comorbidities. The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (49.40%) and cardiovascular disease (36.90%). Approximately one-fifth of the HCWs had severe COVID-19 (16.95%) and 10.68% of the HCWs with COVID-19 died. Being ≥45 years old, male gender, smoking, obesity, and certain NCDs increased the risk of COVID-19 severity and mortality. Obesity and diabetes mellitus were the leading risk factors in terms of the population-attributable risk for COVID-19 severity (6.89%) and mortality (36.00%) respectively. Conclusions Many HCWs with COVID-19 had one or more NCDs. Obesity and diabetes mellitus increased COVID-19 severity and mortality risk. Reducing the prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus would yield the biggest reduction in COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality among HCWs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association between non-communicable diseases and COVID-19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries: a cohort study

Tejan,

Ashubwe,

Beglaryan

et al. 2024

F1000Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care workers during the first 2-years of the pandemic at a cancer hospital in Mexico

Ibanes-Gutierrez,

Martínez-Rivera,

Martin-Onraet

et al. 2024

American Journal of Infection Control

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Occupational risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in Bangladesh: a multicenter hospital-based study and lessons for future epidemics

Basher,

Biswas,

Rahman

et al. 2024

Trop Med Health

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Background Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) were particularly vulnerable to contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection as a result of occupational exposure. There is a scarcity of data characterizing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs, particularly in low-income hospital settings. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 among HCWs and identify associated risk factors. Methods From July 2021 to July 2023, we enrolled HCWs from 13 primary, 2 secondary, and five tertiary care hospitals in four selected districts of Bangladesh. We collected information on demography and risk exposure in a face-to-face interview. We calculated the odds ratio to measure the risk using multivariable logistic regression. Results We enrolled 3436 HCWs: 22% (747) physicians, 47% (1632) nurses, and 31% (1057) support staff. Most of the HCWs were female 67% (2292), and the mean age was 38.1, IQR = 29–44 years. Overall, 26% (889) of HCWs had lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among HCWs, nurses accounted for the highest proportion of COVID-19 infections at 53% (473/1632). Physicians had a significantly higher risk of infection with an aOR of 3.08 (95% CI 2.42–3.93; p < .001) compared to support staff. HCWs who had direct exposure to COVID-19 patients were also at a higher risk, with a 1.93 times higher likelihood of infection ([aOR] = 1.93, 95% CI 1.50–2.47; p < .001), compared to HCWs who were not exposed. Conclusions This study highlights the heightened vulnerability of HCWs to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to occupational exposure and indicates the risk of nosocomial transmission to patients and emphasizes the importance of implementing targeted infection control measures, such as improved workplace safety protocols and comprehensive training to tackle future pandemics of similar traits.

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Predictors of severe COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Sabah, Malaysia

Cited by 5 publications

References 38 publications

The association between non-communicable diseases and COVID-19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries: a cohort study

The association between non-communicable diseases and COVID-19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries: a cohort study

SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care workers during the first 2-years of the pandemic at a cancer hospital in Mexico

Occupational risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in Bangladesh: a multicenter hospital-based study and lessons for future epidemics

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