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

Author

Listed:
  • Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli

    (Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Antonio Baldassarre

    (Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Annarita Chiarelli

    (Occupational Medicine Unit, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Antonella Mariniello

    (Occupational Medicine School, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Diana Paolini

    (Health Direction, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Maddalena Grazzini

    (Health Direction, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Nicola Mucci

    (Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Giulio Arcangeli

    (Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli & Antonio Baldassarre & Annarita Chiarelli & Antonella Mariniello & Diana Paolini & Maddalena Grazzini & Nicola Mucci & Giulio Arcangeli, 2023. "Physical Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Population of Italian Healthcare Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4506-:d:1086612
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli & Gabriele Giorgi & Caterina Pandolfi & Giulia Foti & Georgia Libera Finstad & Giulio Arcangeli & Nicola Mucci, 2021. "Identifying Psychosocial Risks and Protective Measures for Workers’ Mental Wellbeing at the Time of COVID-19: A Narrative Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-26, December.
    2. Ellen J. Thompson & Dylan M. Williams & Alex J. Walker & Ruth E. Mitchell & Claire L. Niedzwiedz & Tiffany C. Yang & Charlotte F. Huggins & Alex S. F. Kwong & Richard J. Silverwood & Giorgio Di Gessa , 2022. "Long COVID burden and risk factors in 10 UK longitudinal studies and electronic health records," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Ewen Callaway & Heidi Ledford, 2021. "How bad is Omicron? What scientists know so far," Nature, Nature, vol. 600(7888), pages 197-199, December.
    4. Maddalena Grazzini & Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli & Nicola Mucci & Diana Paolini & Antonio Baldassarre & Veronica Gallinoro & Annarita Chiarelli & Fabrizio Niccolini & Giulio Arcangeli, 2022. "Return to Work of Healthcare Workers after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Determinants of Physical and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-13, June.
    5. Peng Gao & Jue Liu & Min Liu, 2022. "Effect of COVID-19 Vaccines on Reducing the Risk of Long COVID in the Real World: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, September.
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