Características clínicas y laborales de los trabajadores de un hospital universitario con signos y síntomas de COVID-19 durante la pandemia / Clinical and occupational characteristics of university hospital workers with COVID-19 signs and symptoms during the pandemic

RESUMEN

Objetivo: conocer las características sociodemográficas, laborales y la exposición al riesgo en trabajadores de un hospital universitario que presentaron síntomas COVID-19 durante la primera ola de la pandemia. Métodos: estudio transversal (julio-septiembre 2020) a personal del Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda (Madrid, España) que trabajó en la primera ola de la pandemia. Se diseñó una encuesta ad hoc, que incluía perfil del trabajador, síntomas COVID-19, exposición, curso clínico y atención sanitaria, entre otros. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo. Se usó Chi cuadrado y t de Student para el contraste de hipótesis. Resultados: 992 sujetos. El 34,3% (n= 340) presentó síntomas COVID-19. 283 (84,0%) eran mujeres. El 82,9% (n= 282), personal sanitario. El 36,8% (n= 125), enfermeras. El 63,5% (n= 216) trabajó en unidades de alto riesgo. El 36,2% (n= 123) tenía patología previa. El 83,3% (n= 194) reconoció haber trabajado previamente en unidades de alto riesgo. El 84,5% (n= 229) manifestó haberse sentido expuesto a la infección durante el trabajo. El 49,7% (n= 98) tuvo alguna incidencia de riesgo. El 73,7% (n= 202) presentó astenia. Hubo mayor prevalencia de personal sanitario con síntomas COVID-19 frente a no sanitario en función del trabajo asistencial (92,9% frente a 50,0%; p< 0,001), área de trabajo COVID-19 (74,2% frente a 48,1%; p< 0,001), actividad en Unidades de riesgo alto (73,4% frente a 15,5%; p< 0,001). Conclusiones: entre trabajadores con síntomas COVID hubo una mayor proporción de personal sanitario, mujeres, enfermeras, trabajadores en áreas COVID-19, unidades de riesgo, con exposición previa con pacientes infectados/sospecha. Las diferencias entre trabajadores sanitarios y no sanitarios vienen determinadas por el lugar de trabajo durante la pandemia y el riesgo de exposición a la COVID-19.(AU)

ABSTRACT

Objective: to understand the sociodemographic and occupational characteristics and risk exposure among workers of a university hospital who presented COVID-19 symptoms during the first wave of the pandemic. Methods: a cross-sectional study (July to September 2020), on staff from the Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda (Madrid, Spain) who were working during the first wave of the pandemic. An ad hoc survey was designed, which included the worker profile, COVID-19 symptoms, exposure, clinical course, and healthcare, among others. Descriptive analysis was conducted, and Chi-square and Student’s t-test were used for statistical hypothesis testing. Results: the study included 992 subjects; 34.3% (n= 340) presented COVID-19 symptoms; 283 (84.0%) were female; 82.9% (n= 282) of them were healthcare staff; 36.8% (n= 125) were nurses; 63.5% (n= 216) worked at high risk units; 36.2% (n= 123) had a previous medical condition. Of the participants, 83.3% (n= 194) admitted having worked previously at high risk units; 84.5% (n= 229) stated that they have felt exposed to the infection during work; 49.7% (n= 98) had some incidence of risk; and 73.7% (n= 202) presented asthenia. There was a higher prevalence of healthcare staff with COVID symptoms vs. non-healthcare staff, based on care activities (92.9% vs. 50.0%; p< 0.001), work at COVID areas (74.2% vs. 48.1%; p< 0.001), and activity in high risk Units (73.4% vs. 15.5%; p< 0.001). Conclusions: among the workers with COVID symptoms, there was a higher proportion of healthcare staff, women, nurses, workers at COVID areas, risk units, and previous exposure to patients with confirmed or suspected infection. Differences between healthcare and non-healthcare staff were determined by their place of work during the pandemic and their risk of exposure to COVID-19.(AU)