Excess potential years of working life lost in six countries from Latin America and Europe in 2020 and 2021.

OBJECTIVE: This descriptive study aimed to measure the excess all-cause mortality potential years of working life lost (PYWLL) in the working-age population of six Ibero-American countries in 2020 and 2021. METHODS: This study was based on all-cause deaths for the age group 15-69 years for men and women in six countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, México, Peru, Portugal and Spain. The expected PYWLL was the average value determined from the previous 5 years (2015-2019). To estimate the excess of PYWLL, the expected PYWLL was subtracted from the observed PYWLL values for 2020 and 2021, separately. RESULTS: In the four Latin American countries, the excess PYWLL per death was approximately double (between 12 and 16 years) that of the two European countries (between 3 and 9 years). CONCLUSIONS: The loss of working-age individuals will probably have a profound social and economic recovery impact, affecting families and communities. The informal employment and labour market structures may be contributing to the adverse effects of the pandemic in the region. Investing in universal, comprehensive and sustainable health and social protection systems in the Latin American countries is crucial to build resilience against current and future crises.

[Health and well-being of healthcare workers: employment and working conditions beyond the pandemic]. / Salud y bienestar del personal sanitario: condiciones de empleo y de trabajo más allá de la pandemia. Informe SESPAS 2024.

Healthcare workers are people who work in health activities, whether or not they have direct contact with citizens. Currently, around 1.3 million people (70% women) work in healthcare activities in Spain. This represents around 10% of the active population, having increased by 33% since 2008, especially the number of women, which has doubled. Healthcare organizations, especially hospitals, are extremely complex workplaces, with precarious working and employment conditions, especially in more hierarchical occupations, exposing healthcare workers to numerous occupational hazards, mainly from ergonomic and psychosocial conditions. These causes frequent musculoskeletal and mental disorders, highlighting burnout, which is estimated at 40% in some services such as intensive care units. This high morbidity is reflected in a high frequency of absences due to illness, around 9% after the pandemic. The pandemic, and its consequences in the last three years, has put extreme pressure on the health system and has clearly shown its deficiencies in relation to working and employment conditions. The hundreds of occupational health professionals, technicians and healthcare workers, who are part of the structures of health organizations, constitute very valuable resources to increase the resilience of the NHS. We recommend the strengthening in resources and institutionally of the occupational health services of health centers and the creation of an Observatory of working, employment and health conditions in the National Health Service, as an instrument for monitoring changes and proposing solutions.

[Occupational health policies in older workers: comparative analysis between Spain and Chile]. / Políticas en salud laboral en personas trabajadoras mayores: análisis comparativo entre España y Chile.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare the current Spanish and Chilean regulations regarding occupational risk prevention, regarding the existence of specific indications that protect the occupational health and safety of people over 55 years of age. METHOD: Qualitative study in which a documentary content analysis was carried out using ATLAS/ti. The sample was 88 regulatory documents on occupational risk prevention for Spain and Chile. The guidance of the European Agency for Safety at Work (EU-OSHA) regarding age-critical risks was followed. RESULTS: In global terms, 21.9% of the total Spanish documents analyzed show the explicit presence of considerations on aging, while for Chile this occurs in 9%. Both countries mention indications regarding ergonomic risks and noise. Shift work and psychosocial risks are considered only in Spain, while extreme temperatures, vibrations and geographical altitude appear exclusively in Chilean regulations. Neither country refers to issues inherent to working women (care responsibilities, menopause). CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish regulations present a greater presence of indications on aging compared to the Chilean one. However, development in this area is insufficient in both countries. Chile and Spain have guides of recommendations, which are not mandatory, and their application is voluntary. This suggests that the prevention of occupational risks has a great pending challenge with people over 55 years of age.

[The public health profession in Spain: an urgent challenge to strengthen its practice]. / La profesión de la salud pública en España: un reto urgente para fortalecer su práctica.

The recent health crises have highlighted the weakness of public health structures in Spain. The causes are, among others, the scarcity of economic resources and the delay in their institutional modernization. In addition, there is the weakness of the training processes and the employability. The Spanish Society of Public Health and Health Administration (SESPAS) has developed a White paper of the public health profession with the aim of contributing to strengthening professional practice. The sociodemographic characteristics of the associations federated to SESPAS have been described and the discourse of professionals has been analyzed through six focus groups and 19 interviews (72 people). To agree on the conclusions and recommendations, a meeting was organized with the participation of 29 participants. The demographic and employment data of the 3467 people belonging to seven SESPAS societies show that, overall, about 60% are women and 40% were under 50 years of age. Undergraduate degrees were medicine (35.9%), nursing (17.4%) and pharmacy and veterinary medicine (10.4%). Key aspects of the meaning of public health, training, employability and career and institutionalization of public health were collected through interviews and focus groups. The final meeting agreed on 25 conclusions and 24 recommendations that aim to contribute to strengthening professionals and the public health profession in Spain. Some of them, related to training, employability and professional career, have been shared in a workshop at the School of Public Health of Menorca with public health officials from the Ministry of Health and some autonomous communities.

Labour market participation after sickness absence due to cancer: a dynamic cohort study in Catalonia (Spain).

BACKGROUND: The consequences of cancer on working until retirement age remain unclear. This study aimed to analyse working life considering all possible labour market states in a sample of workers after sickness absence (SA) due to cancer and to compare their working life paths to those of a sample of workers without SA and with an SA due to other diseases. METHODS: This was a retrospective dynamic cohort study among social security affiliates in Catalonia from 2012-2018. Cases consisted of workers with an SA due to cancer between 2012-2015 (N = 516) and were individually age- and sex-matched with those of affiliates with an SA due to other diagnoses and workers without an SA. All workers (N = 1,548, 56% women) were followed up from entry into the cohort until the end of 2018 to characterise nine possible weekly labour states. Sequence analysis, optimal matching, and multinomial logistic regression were used to identify and assess the probability of future labour market participation patterns (LMPPs). All analyses were stratified by sex. RESULTS: Compared with workers with an SA due to cancer, male workers with no SA and SA due to other causes showed a lower probability of being in the LMPP of death (aRRR 0.02, 95% CI: 0.00‒0.16; aRRR 0.17, 95% CI: 0.06‒0.46, respectively) and, among women, a lower probability of permanent disability and death (aRRR 0.24, 95% CI: 0.10‒0.57; aRRR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.19‒0.83, respectively). Compared to workers with SA due to cancer, the risk of early retirement was lower among workers with no SA (women, aRRR 0.60, 95% CI: 0.22‒1.65; men, aRRR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.27‒1.52), although these results were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Workplaces, many of which have policies common to all diagnoses, should be modified to the needs of cancer survivors to prevent an increasing frequency of early retirement and permanent disability when possible. Future studies should assess the impact of cancer on premature exit from the labour market among survivors, depending on cancer localisation and type of treatment.

Consensus on post COVID in the Spanish national health system: Results of the CIBERPOSTCOVID eDelphi study.

BACKGROUND: In 2021, the Spanish Ministry of Health launched the CIBERPOSTCOVID project to establish what post COVID was. The present study reports the level of agreement among stakeholders on post COVID and its clinical and diagnostic characteristics in the Spanish health system. METHODS: The agreement on post COVID among clinicians, public health managers, researchers and patients' representatives was explored in a real-time, asynchronous online Delphi. In a two-wave consensus, respondents rated from 1 (total disagreement) to 6 (total agreement) 67 statements related to terminology, duration, etiology, symptoms, impact on quality of life, severity, elements to facilitate diagnosis, applicability in the pediatric population, and risk factors. Consensus was reached when 70 % of ratings for a statement were 5 or 6, with an interquartile range equal or less than 1. FINDINGS: A total of 333 professionals and patients participated in this eDelphi study. There was agreement that post COVID was "a set of multi-organic symptoms that persist or fluctuate after acute COVID-19 infection and are not attributable to other causes" with a minimum duration of 3 months. The highest levels of agreement were found in the most frequent symptoms and its impacts on everyday activities. Aspects related to the diagnostic process and the measurement of its severity reached a lower level of consensus. There was agreement on the need to rule out previous health problems and assess severity using validated functional scales. However, no agreement was reached on the risk factors or specific features in the pediatric population. INTERPRETATION: This policy-based consensus study has allowed the characterization of post COVID generating collective intelligence and has contributed to an operational definition applicable in clinical practice, health services management and useful for research purposes in Spain and abroad. Agreements are consistent with existing evidence and reference institutions at European and international level.

[The need for university links for public health professionals]. / La necesaria vinculación universitaria de los profesionales de salud pública.

There needs to be a bidirectional relationship between the public health profession and academia. This will enhance their professional practice and the academy will be able to carry out practice-based teaching and research. This field note explains a legislative advance in this direction. So that professionals from public health institutions can access permanent positions as university professors, as well as the professionals in the clinical field, we ask several deputies from some parliamentary groups of the Universities Commission to include a reform that modifies article 70 of the project of Organic Law of the University System (LOSU in Spanish acronym) with this possibility. Ultimately, LOSU was approved in March 2023 with the requested amendment, providing a great opportunity for both public health institutions and academia to advance a bidirectional relationship.

Workplace aggression against healthcare workers in a Spanish healthcare institution between 2019 and 2021: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: Describe the incidence of first aggressions among healthcare workers (HCWs) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Spanish healthcare institution, according to workers' socio-occupational characteristics and analyze the impact of the pandemic on it. Methods: A cohort involving HCWs who worked in the institution for at least 1 week each year from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021. Adjusted relative risks (aRR) were estimated using generalized estimating equations and negative binomial models to calculate the differences in WPA between the different time periods. All analyses were stratified by gender. Results: Among women, the incidence was 6.8% (6.0; 7.8) during the pre-COVID-19 period, 6.0% (5.2; 7.0) during the COVID-19 baseline and 5.1% (4.3; 5.9) during the COVID-19 endline; and 4.6% (3.4; 6.1), 5.3% (4.1; 6.8) and 4.4% (3.5; 5.8), respectively, among men. Among men, the incidence of WPA was 4.6 (3.4; 6.1), 5.3 (4.1; 6.8), and 4.4% (3.5; 5.8), respectively. These incidences were significantly higher among male nurses and aides [11.1 (8.0; 15.4), 12.3 (8.9; 16.6), and 9.3% (6.5; 13.3) during each period] and psychiatric center workers [women: 14.7 (11.2; 19.0), 15.4 (11.8; 19.8), and 12.4% (9.2; 16.6); men: 12.3 (7.2; 20.0), 17.8 (11.6; 26.2), and 14.3% (8.8; 22.4)]. Among women, the risk of WPA was 23% lower in the post-COVID-19 period compared to before the pandemic [aRR = 0.77 (0.64; 0.93)], while the risk during the COVID-19 baseline was not significantly different [aRR = 0.89 (0.74; 1.06)]. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unexpected decrease in first-time WPA against HCWs. However, ~5% of HCWs experienced at least one incidence of aggression in the last follow-up year. Healthcare managers should continue to increase the prevention of aggression against HCWs, especially among vulnerable groups with a higher level of incidence.

Extreme temperatures and sickness absence in the Mediterranean province of Barcelona: An occupational health issue.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the association between daily temperature and sickness absence episodes in the Mediterranean province of Barcelona between 2012 and 2015, according to sociodemographic and occupational characteristics. Methods: Ecological study of a sample of salaried workers affiliated to the Spanish social security, resident in Barcelona province between 2012 and 2015. The association between daily mean temperature and risk of new sickness absence episodes was estimated with distributed lag non-linear models. The lag effect up to 1 week was considered. Analyses were repeated separately by sex, age groups, occupational category, economic sector and medical diagnosis groups of sickness absence. Results: The study included 42,744 salaried workers and 97,166 episodes of sickness absence. The risk of sickness absence increased significantly between 2 and 6 days after the cold day. For hot days there was no association with risk of sickness absence. Women, young, non-manual and workers in the service sector had a higher risk of sickness absence on cold days. The effect of cold on sickness absence was significant for respiratory system diseases (RR: 2.16; 95%CI: 1.68-2.79) and infectious diseases (RR: 1.31; 95%CI: 1.04-1.66). Conclusion: Low temperatures increase the risk of having a new episode of sickness absence, especially due to respiratory and infectious diseases. Vulnerable groups were identified. These results suggest the importance of working in indoor and possibly poorly ventilated spaces in the spread of diseases that eventually lead to an episode of sickness absence. It is necessary to develop specific prevention plans for cold situations.

Informal Employment and Poor Mental Health in a Sample of 180,260 Workers from 13 Iberoamerican Countries.

The aim of this study is to estimate the association between employment conditions and mental health status in the working population of Iberoamerica. In this cross-sectional study, we pooled individual-level data from nationally representative surveys across 13 countries. A sample of 180,260 workers was analyzed. Informality was assessed by social security, health affiliation, or contract holding. Mental health was assessed using several instruments. We used Poisson regression models to estimate the contribution of informality to poor mental health by sex and country, adjusted by sociodemographic and work-related characteristics. Then, we performed a meta-analysis pooling of aggregate data using a random-effects inverse-variance model. Workers in informal employments showed a higher adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) of poor mental health than those in formal employment in Peru (aPR men 1.5 [95% confidence intervals 1.16; 1.93]), Spain (aPR men 2.2 [1.01; 4.78]) and Mexico (aPR men 1.24 [1.04; 1.47]; women 1.39 [1.18; 1.64]). Overall estimates showed that workers in informal employment have a higher prevalence of poor mental health than formal workers, with it being 1.19 times higher (aPR 1.19 [1.02; 1.39]) among men, and 1.11 times higher prevalence among women (aPR 1.11 [1.00; 1.23]). Addressing informal employment could contribute to improving workers' mental health.

[Excess mortality in 2020 in the working-age population of nine Latin American countriesExcesso de mortalidade na população em idade ativa em nove países da América Latina no ano de 2020]. / Exceso de mortalidad en población en edad de trabajar en nueve países de Latinoamérica, año 2020.

Objective: Estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, through excess all-cause mortality and potential years of productive life lost (YPLL) in the working-age population, in selected Latin American and Caribbean countries. Methods: Study based on data on deaths from all causes from age 15 to 69 years, mainly from national institutes of statistics. Estimates of expected deaths were based on reported deaths from 2015 to 2019. Excess mortality was estimated using the P indicator, standardized mortality ratio (SMR), and potential YPLL up to age 70 years. Results: Excess deaths in Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Peru totaled 426 978 (279 591 men and 147 438 women), representing a potential loss of 5 710 048 (3 738 775 in men and 1 971 273 in women) years of productive life. Observed mortality was significantly higher than expected in all countries except the Dominican Republic. Conclusions: COVID-19 in the working-age population will have a profound impact on socio-economic conditions. Timely counting of excess deaths is useful and can be used as an early warning system to monitor the magnitude of COVID-19 outbreaks. Monitoring of excess mortality in working-age people by the Ibero-American Observatory on Safety and Health at Work enables more accurate assessment of the social and economic burden of COVID-19.

Objetivo: Estimar o impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 durante o ano de 2020, por meio do excesso de mortalidade por todas as causas e dos anos produtivos de vida perdidos (APrVP) na população em idade ativa, em uma seleção de países da América Latina e do Caribe. Métodos: Estudo baseado em dados de óbitos por todas as causas entre 15 e 69 anos, principalmente dos Institutos Nacionais de Estatística. Os óbitos esperados foram estimados a partir daqueles registrados entre 2015 e 2019. O excesso de mortalidade foi estimado por meio do indicador P, da razão de mortalidade padronizada (RMP) e dos APrVP até os 70 anos. Resultados: O excesso de óbitos no Brasil, na Bolívia, no Chile, na Colômbia, na Costa Rica, em Cuba, no México, no Peru e na República Dominicana totalizou 426 978 (279 591 em homens e 147 438 em mulheres), o que representou uma perda de 5 710 048 (3 738 775 em homens e 1 971 273 em mulheres) APrVP. A mortalidade observada foi significativamente maior do que o esperado em todos os países, exceto na República Dominicana. Conclusões: O impacto da COVID-19 na população em idade ativa terá um impacto profundo na situação socioeconómica. O cálculo oportuno do excesso de mortes é útil e pode ser usado como um sistema de alerta precoce para monitorar a magnitude dos surtos de COVID-19. O monitoramento do excesso de mortalidade em pessoas em idade ativa, realizado pelo Observatório Ibero-Americano de Segurança e Saúde no Trabalho, permite avaliar com mais precisão a carga social e econômica da COVID-19.

[Ausencia por enfermedad, condiciones médicas y de trabajo durante el embarazo en una cohorte de profesionales sanitarias]. / Sickness absence, medical and workplace conditions during pregnancy in a cohort of healthcare workers.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between sickness absence (SA) trajectories by medical diagnoses and exposure to occupational risk factors during pregnancy.  Methods: SA trajectories were identified in a cohort of 367 pregnant workers from a healthcare institution (period 2010-2014), based on most frequent diagnosis using sequence analysis. Trajectory 1 included SA episodes due mainly to musculoskeletal disorders (58.86%), trajectory 2 included SA episodes due to pregnancy-related disorders (25.07%) and trajectory 3 included absences mainly covered by pregnancy-related occupational risk benefits (POR) and few SA episodes (16.08%). Exposure to occupational risk factors was assessed by experts and their association with trajectories was analysed using logistic regression. Relative risks (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were adjusted for age, type of contract and work shift. RESULTS: Trajectory 1 was negatively associated with exposure to safety and ergonomic risks (RR=0.56, 95%CI=0.35-0.90; RR=0.50, 95%CI=0.33-0.77, respectively) and with the highest global risk index (RR=0.68, 95%CI=0.49-0.96). Trajectory 3 was associated with safety and ergonomic risks (RR=2.75, 95%CI=1.59-4.75; RR=3.64, 95%CI=2.18-6.06, respectively) and with the highest global risk index (RR=2.69, 95%CI=1.43-5.01). Nursing aides and nurses had a higher probability of belonging to trajectory 3 (RR 5.58, 95%CI=2.09-14.95 and RR 5.00, 95%CI 2.18-6.06, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy-related and musculoskeletal disorders are the most frequent sickness absence diagnosis during pregnancy. Low levels of occupational risk factors exposure were related to absences from work covered mainly by sickness absence. Current social benefits seem to be used as a complementary way to balance work and health during pregnancy.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la asociación entre trayectorias de ausencia por enfermedad (SA) según diagnóstico y exposición a factores de riesgo laborales durante el embarazo. Métodos: Estudio de cohortes (367 trabajadoras sanitarias embarazadas). Se identificaron trayectorias de ausencia por enfermedad según los diagnósticos más frecuentes mediante análisis de secuencias (2010-2014). La trayectoria 1 incluía SA principalmente por trastornos musculoesqueléticos (58,86%), la 2 por trastornos relacionados con el embarazo (25,07%) y la 3 incluía ausencias por la prestación por riesgo durante el embarazo (POR) y pocas SA (16,08%). La exposición a factores de riesgo laborales fue evaluada por expertos y se analizó la asociación con las trayectorias mediante regresión logística. Los riesgos relativos (RR) y sus intervalos de confianza (IC95%) se ajustaron por edad, contrato y turno. RESULTADOS: La trayectoria 1 se asoció negativamente con la exposición a riesgos de seguridad y ergonómicos (RR=0,56, IC95%=0,35-0,90; RR=0,50, IC95%=0,33-0,77) y con índice de riesgo global más bajo (RR=0,68, IC95%=0,49-0,96). La tercera se asoció a riesgos de seguridad y ergonómicos (RR=2,75, IC 95 %=1,59-4,75; RR=3,64, IC 95 %=2,18-6,06) y con el riesgo más alto (RR=2,69, 95 % IC=1,43-5,01). El personal de enfermería tuvo mayor probabilidad de pertenecer a la trayectoria 3 (RR 5,58, IC95%=2,09-14,95 y RR 5,00, IC95% 2,18-6,06). CONCLUSIONES: Los trastornos musculoesqueléticos y por trastornos relacionados con el embarazo son los grupos diagnósticos de SA más frecuentes. Bajos niveles de exposición a riesgos laborales se relacionaron con ausencias cubiertas principalmente por SA. Las prestaciones sociales parecen utilizarse complementariamente para equilibrar el trabajo y la salud.

Waiting time from identification to recognition an occupational disease in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the waiting time since a suspected an occupational disease (OD) is identified, notified and recognized in Spain. METHOD: A series of 34 patients attended at Occupational Diseases Unit (ODU) of Hospital del Mar in Barcelona were follow up since their identification until final resolution by the National Institute of Social Security (INSS). Median, and 25 and 75 percentiles (interquartile range [IQR]) were calculated in weeks by total time (n=27), ODU time (n=34), patient time (n=31) and INSS time (n=27). RESULTS: Total time was 51 weeks (IQR: 33.6 and 122.6), of which 42 weeks (17.6-99.5) corresponded to the waiting period at the INSS. CONCLUSIONS: The disproportionately long waiting time since INSS receives a case could impact on the under-recognition of OD. Urgent improvement of the administrative process is needed to reduce the patient waiting time for the recognition of OD.

Non-Pharmacological Preventive Measures Had an Impact on COVID-19 in Healthcare Workers before the Vaccination Effect: A Cohort Study.

Healthcare workers have been and still are at the forefront of COVID-19 patient care. Their infection had direct implications and caused important challenges for healthcare performance. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of non-pharmacological preventive measures against COVID-19 among healthcare workers. This study is based on a dynamic cohort of healthcare workers (n = 5543) who had been hired by a Spanish hospital for at least one week during 2020. Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate the incidence rate and the rate ratio (RR) between the two waves (defined from 15 March to 21 June and from 22 June to 31 December), considering natural immunity during the first wave and contextual variables. All models were stratified by socio-occupational variables. The average COVID-19 incidence rate per 1000 worker-days showed a significant reduction between the two waves, dropping from 0.82 (CI95%: 0.73-0.91) to 0.39 (0.35-0.44). The adjusted RR was 0.54 (0.48-0.87) when natural immunity was acquired during the first wave, and contextual variables were considered. The significant reduction of the COVID-19 incidence rate could be explained mainly by improvement in the non-pharmacological preventive interventions. It is needed to identify which measures were more effective. Young workers and those with a replacement contract were identified as vulnerable groups that need greater preventive efforts. Future preparedness plans would benefit from these results.

[Approximation to the cost of occupational diseases treated in seven hospitals in Spain]. / Aproximación al coste de enfermedades profesionales atendidas en siete hospitales en España.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the hospital cost of a sample of cases treated in seven hospitals of the National Health System in several Spanish cities. METHOD: Study based on 78 cases of occupational disease recognized by the social security, and previously treated in hospitals in Badalona, Barcelona, Ferrol, Gijón, Girona, Madrid and Vigo between 2017 and 2019. RESULTS: The healthcare activity generated by these hospitals to attend these processes involved a total cost of 282,927€. CONCLUSIONS: It is urgent to improve the coordination between the two public health systems, the social security health care system and the National Health System.

[Characteristics and contents of the Master's programs in public health in Spain]. / Características y contenidos de los programas de maestría en salud pública en España.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the main academic characteristics and contents of the different master's programs in public health currently offered in Spain. METHOD: A systematic search has been carried out in the Register of Universities, Centers and Degrees of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports. The main academic characteristics and the contents (mandatory and optional) of the programs of 11 official master's degrees with the renewed accreditation in 2018 were analyzed based on the data published on the universities' web pages. RESULTS: Most programs are 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), face-to-face, taught in Spanish, include in their curriculum the completion of a master's thesis but not professional practices. Only contents related to statistics and basic epidemiology, and the training activity of master's thesis, are offers by all programs. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of public health master's programs in Spain shows a certain homogeneity regarding their academic characteristics, but a great heterogeneity in relation to their contents. There is also a great heterogeneity in the credits granted to the different subjects, especially optional subjects. It would be advisable to standardize a common core, especially in the mandatory contents.