Longitudinal Association of Working From Home on Work Functioning Impairment in Desk Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study clarifies the longitudinal association between working from home and work functioning impairment among desk workers. METHODS: Nationwide surveys were conducted from 2020 to 2022, analyzing 3532 desk workers who never worked from home before the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence intervals) of working from home at least once a month or more with the composite result (incidence of work functioning or reduced work participation) was 1.22 (1.04-1.43). The cause-specific hazard ratios of work functioning impairment and reduced work participation were 1.30 (1.04-1.61) and 1.13 (0.86-1.47). CONCLUSIONS: Working from home could be longitudinally associated with work functioning impairment, especially for workers who are in higher positions. Workers and policy makers should be aware of the potential risk of working from home regarding presenteeism.

Symptom Profile of Patients With Post-COVID-19 Conditions and Influencing Factors for Recovery.

Background: The aim of the study was to examine the factors that influence the improvement of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms. Methods: We investigated the biomarkers and post-COVID-19 symptoms status of 120 post-COVID-19 symptomatic outpatients (44 males and 76 females) visiting our hospital. This study was a retrospective analysis, so we analyzed the course of symptoms only for those who could follow the progress of the symptoms for 12 weeks. We analyzed the data including the intake of zinc acetate hydrate. Results: The main symptoms that remained after 12 weeks were, in descending order: taste disorder, olfactory disorder, hair loss, and fatigue. Fatigue was improved in all cases treated with zinc acetate hydrate 8 weeks later, exhibiting a significant difference from the untreated group (P = 0.030). The similar trend was observed even 12 weeks later, although there was no significant difference (P = 0.060). With respect to hair loss, the group treated with zinc acetate hydrate showed significant improvements 4, 8, and 12 weeks later, compared with the untreated group (P = 0.002, P = 0.002, and P = 0.006). Conclusion: Zinc acetate hydrate may improve fatigue and hair loss as symptoms after contracting COVID-19.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of healthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection in hospitalized patients with sepsis: Interrupted time series analysis using Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination data.

OBJECTIVES: Healthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (HO-CDI) is a major nosocomial infection associated with high mortality and healthcare costs. We aimed to determine if HO-CDI incidence decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that the pandemic decreased HO-CDI as healthcare workers became more diligent in handwashing and sanitization. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, adult patients with sepsis hospitalized in general wards from January 2018 to February 2021 were identified using a nationwide Japanese administrative database. Patients were divided into two groups according to the hospitalization date (before and after the first declaration of a state of emergency). The primary outcome was a change in the level of the HO-CDI monthly incidence ratio (per 10000 patient-days). RESULTS: Of the 49,156 eligible hospitalizations for sepsis, 41,870 were before and 7,283 were after the first state of emergency declaration. Interrupted time-series (ITS) analysis showed no significant difference in the HO-CDI incidence ratio after Japan's first state of emergency declaration (level change -1.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) -8.6 to 6.6, p = 0.8, slope change 0.06, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.3, p = 0.6). The overall HO-CDI incidence ratio was 3.86/10000 patient-days (interquartile range 2.97-4.53); higher incidence existed in subgroups with older adults or a lower Barthel index at admission. CONCLUSIONS: No significant change in HO-CDI incidence was observed in patients with sepsis hospitalized in general wards before and after Japan's first state of emergency declaration. Our study revealed that HO-CDI in general wards in Japan had been consistently decreasing since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of workplace smoke-free policy on secondhand smoke exposure from cigarettes and exposure to secondhand heated tobacco product aerosol during COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: the JACSIS 2020 study.

OBJECTIVES: Promoting smoke-free policies is a key intervention for reducing secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, many indoor smoking spaces in workplaces were closed. This study aimed to reveal the association between a workplace smoke-free policy and SHS exposure among non-smoking employees, distinguishing between SHS exposure from cigarettes and exposure to secondhand heated tobacco product (HTP) aerosol, which have recently become popular in Japan. DESIGN AND SETTING: We used data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey conducted in August-September 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Among the 25 482 eligible respondents, 8196 non-smoking employees were analysed. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the impact of smoke-free policies in the workplace. RESULTS: Compared with complete smoking bans, the ORs and 95% CIs for workplace SHS exposure at least once a week from cigarettes were 2.06 (95% CI: 1.60 to 2.65) for partial bans with no longer available smoking spaces, 1.92 (95% CI: 1.63 to 2.25) for partial smoking bans with still available smoking spaces and 5.33 (95% CI: 4.10 to 6.93) for no smoking bans. The corresponding ORs and 95% CIs for exposure to secondhand HTP aerosol were 4.15 (95% CI: 3.22 to 5.34), 2.24 (95% CI: 1.86 to 2.71) and 3.88 (95% CI: 2.86 to 5.26), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of partial bans was limited, and temporary closure of smoking spaces might contribute to increased exposure to secondhand HTP aerosol. Complete smoking bans in the workplace were reaffirmed to be the best way to reduce SHS exposure from cigarettes and exposure to secondhand HTP aerosol.