Working conditions of medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021 in Novosibirsk

Introduction. The high risk of infection of healthcare workers dictates the need to study their working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aims to research the working conditions of medical workers during the COVID–19 pandemic in multidisciplinary medical and preventive organizations. Materials and methods. Analysis of working conditions of medical workers of medical and preventive organizations. The study design is a closed population (four medical institutions were randomly selected), a target group (doctors and nurses). The authors analyzed the staffing table and 16 reports on a special assessment of working conditions at 1,251 workplaces (1,845 medical workers, of which 787 doctors, 1,058 nurses). Statistical analysis included: standard methods of descriptive statistics, determination of relationships by logistic regression (odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (OR CI)). p<0.05 was taken as the critical level of significance. Results. The largest number of ill medical workers provided assistance to patients without signs of COVID-19 both in hospitals (86.06% of doctors, 85.85% of nurses) and in outpatient polyclinic treatment and prevention organizations (90.31% of doctors, 92.05% of nurses). The probability of getting sick COVID-19 was maximum in an infectious diseases hospital (compared with emergency departments OR 2.049;95% OR CI 1.194–4.608 and diagnostic and treatment units of medical institutions OR 3,057;95% OR CI 1,876–4,98). The workplaces of medical workers who have undergone COVID-19 in infectious diseases hospitals and specialized teams are classified as harmful class 1–3 degrees, and workers are classified as high occupational risk groups according to SARS-CoV-2. The probability of getting sick with COVID-19 is significantly higher when in contact with pathogens of infectious diseases (class of working conditions 3.3 compared to 3.1 or 3.2). Conclusion. The workplaces of medical workers who have undergone COVID-19 in infectious diseases hospitals and specialized brigades are classified as harmful class of the first to third degree, and workers are classified as high occupational risk groups for COVID–19. Ethics. Scientists have conducted the study in compliance with the Ethical principles set out in the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 with amendments of 1983 and obtaining the informed consent of patients. © 2023, Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved.

[Clinic and functional features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after virus-induced acute exacerbations.]

AIM: To establish symptoms, lung function and to evaluate subsequent exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during a year after virus-induced COPD exacerbations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients hospitalized with viral (n=60), bacterial (n=60) and viral-bacterial (n=60) COPD exacerbations were enrolled to single-center prospective observational study. COPD was diagnosed according spirography criteria. Viral infection was established in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or sputum by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for RNA of influenza A and B virus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms, lung function, COPD exacerbations were assessed. Patients were investigated at the hospitalization onset and then 4 and 52 weeks following the discharge from the hospital. RESULTS: After 52 weeks in viral and viral-bacterial COPD exacerbations groups the rate of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) decline were maximal - 71 (68; 73) ml/year and 69 (67; 72) ml/year versus 59 (55; 62) ml/year after bacterial exacerbations. Low levels of diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco/Va) - 52.5% (45.1%; 55.8%), 50.2% (44.9%; 56.0%) and 75.3% (72.2%; 80.1%) respectively, of 6-minute walk distance; p<0.001 in relation to bacterial exacerbations. In Cox proportional hazards regression analyses viral and viral-bacterial exacerbations were associated with increased risk of subsequent COPD exacerbations by 2.4 times independent of exacerbations rate before index event and FEV1. In linear regression models the relationships between airflow limitation and respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus and influenza virus infection, between low DLco/Va and rhinovirus, influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 infection. CONCLUSION: COPD after virus-induced exacerbations were characterized by progression of airflow limitation, low DLco/Va, low 6-minute walking test distance, subsequent COPD exacerbations risk.

Clinical and molecular features of virus-­induced acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction. Inflammation in viral-induced acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not studied enough. The aim was to establish molecular pattern of inflammation in viral-induced acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in comparison with bacterial AECOPD and to reveal associations with AECOPD phenotype and subsequent COPD progression. Materials and methods. Subjects hospitalized with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) of which 60 were viral, 60 were bacterial and 60 were viral-bacterial were recruited to single center prospective (52 weeks) cohort study. Control group – 30 healthy people. COPD were diagnosed previously during stable phase of the disease according to spirographic criteria. Viral AECOPD were confirmed by detection of RNA of influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reac-tion (RT-PCR). Bacterial AECOPD were confirmed by sputum/BALF neutrophilia or elevated blood procalcitonin levels or by detect-ing bacteria by standard culture method. Plasma concentrations of cytokines, fibrotic markers, enzymes were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, plasma fibrinogen – by Clauss method. Complex lung function investigation, Doppler-echocardiography, subsequent AECOPD assessment were done. Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square test were used to compare groups, Cox regression and linear regression – to explore relationships. Results. Viral AECOPD were characterized by highest plasma concentrations of Eosinophilic cationic protein (62,3 (52,4;71,0) ng/ml)), interleukin-5 (IL-5) (11,3 (8,4;15,9) pg/ml), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) (10,4 (6,2;14,9) pg/ml), transforming growth fac-tor-β1 (TGF-β1) (922,4 (875,7;953,8) pg/ml), hyaluronic acid (185,4 (172,8;196,3) ng/ml), amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) (249,2 (225,1;263,7) ng/ml), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) (235,2 (208,6;254,9) pg/ml). Levels of IL-5 during AE COPD was the predictor of FEV1, bronchodilation coefficient, subsequent exacerbations at remote period, fibrin-ogen was associated with FEV1, PIIINP and FGF-2 with DLco, PaO2, mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), exacerbations, MMP-1 – with mPAP. Conclusions. In virus-induced AECOPD inflammation pattern differed from those in bacterial one and associated with AECOPD phenotype and COPD phenotype at the stable phase. © 2022, Remedium Group Ltd. All rights reserved.