[Health protection of employees against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection causing the COVID-19 disease - the current state of knowledge and recommendations]. / Ochrona zdrowia pracujacych przed zakazeniem koronawirusem SARS-CoV-2 wywolujacym COVID-19 ­ aktualny stan wiedzy i zalecenia.

The COVID-19 pandemic, despite the restrictions and preventive measures applied, has rapidly spread and reached Poland. The adaptation to the dynamically changing epidemiological situation requires a prompt implementation of effective preventive measures. The aim of the publication is to provide current knowledge to all persons involved in the preventive care system, i.e., employees, employers and professionals of occupational medicine, about the epidemiological situation related to SARS­CoV- 2, as well as recommendations and possible solutions. In order to analyze these issues, a review of literature was conducted based on medical research databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, and the Web of Science Core Collection. The literature was supplemented with studies found on websites of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization. Data on the cases of and deaths due to COVID-19 come from reports provided by the Ministry of Health, data published on the websites of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, and ourworldindata.org. By the time of submitting the publication, 34 154 cases and 1444 deaths due to coronavirus had been recorded in Poland. Data from published studies suggest that the virus is mainly transmitted via droplets or through contact with contaminated objects and surfaces. Therefore, in the absence of an effective vaccine, preventive actions are based mainly on strategies that minimize the risk of pathogen transmission. In addition to discussing the current epidemiological situation, diagnostic procedures, risk groups and COVID-19 characteristics, the paper presents recommendations and proposed solutions for employers and employees regarding the prevention of SARS­CoV- 2, along with currently applicable laws and recommendations on employee prophylactic examinations during the pandemic. Subsequently, COVID-19 was discussed in the aspect of an occupational disease and other health threats related to the pandemics. The epidemiological situation regarding coronavirus indicates the need to take immediate and effective actions to minimize infection transmission among employees, and to develop procedures for a quick and effective ability to locate the COVID-19 outbreaks in workplaces. Med Pr. 2021;72(1):69-87.

The association between platelet indices, cognitive screening tests and functional dependence screening questionnaires in hospitalized older people.

PURPOSE: Activated platelets have been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of dementia. Recent studies have shown contradictory results concerning the relationship between blood platelet indices and cognitive performance. METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluates the relationship between basic platelet indices and cognitive and functional performance of 754 men and women, aged 60-105 years old, admitted to the geriatric hospital unit. Assessment of global cognitive function and functional ability were performed using Mini-Mental State Examination, the seven-point Clock Drawing Test, the Katz Activities of Daily Living, the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale and the Vulnerable Elders Survey Questionnaire. As platelet indices, platelet count, mean platelet volume, plateletcrit and platelet distribution width were measured. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between cognitive performance and platelet indices. Out of the functional dependence questionnaires, only the Katz Activities of Daily Living and the Vulnerable Elders Survey Questionnaire were weakly correlated with platelet count (r = - 0.080 and r = 0.096) and plateletcrit (r = - 0.075 and 0.082, respectively), but these associations diminished in sex-specific analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive and functional status are not systematically related to platelet indices in multimorbid hospitalized older adults.

Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in elderly patients with unipolar depression - case control analysis.

AIM: C-reactive protein (CRP) is the major acute-phase plasma protein. Studies show that patients with depression have elevated levels of CRP. The aim of the study was to determine differences in CRP serum level in elderly patients with unipolar depression (DEP) compared with non-depressed elderly patients (nonDEP) using case-control analysis. METHODS: Serum level of CRP was measured in 404 (DEP: n = 202, nonDEP: n = 202) Caucasian inpatients aged ≥60 (350 women, 86.7%; mean age = 76.7 years). RESULTS: Mean CRP level in the study groups was: DEP 2.67 ± 2.56 mg/dL, nonDEP 2.41 ± 2.19 mg/dL, the difference was not significant (p = 0.96). The overall rate of being above the high level of CRP (set at 3.0 mg/L) was 33.2% for DEP and 29.2% for nonDEP groups (p = 0.39). It was also found that, in the whole study group, CRP level was not correlated with age (p = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with depression have no increased CRP levels. A high percentage (∼30%) of all subjects had a CRP level >3 mg/L, which is the cut-off point for increased cardiovascular risk.