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Background: COVID-19 is the most important health problem in the world nowadays. Since the publication of the first cases, the symptoms have become more numerous. Anosmia has been recently recognized as a frequent and relevant symptom for the detection of COVID-19, especially in pauci-symptomatic forms. Objective(s): To determine the prevalence of anosmia in health care workers affected by SARS-COV2 and to identify its associated factors. Method(s): This is a cross-sectional analytical study, carried out over a six-month period, which included all healthcare workers of Farhat Hached Academic Hospital of Sousse, Tunisia, affected by SARS-COV2 and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction or antigen rapid test. Result(s): A total of 474 healthcare workers were enrolled with a mean age of 41.02+/-10.67 years and a sex ratio of 0.2. The gynecology department was the most represented one (13.9%). Nurses were the most affected (31.4%). Hospitalization was required for 16 patients (3.4%). The average time of work was 17.04 +/- 11.6 days. Anosmia persisted for more than 90 days in 35 patients (7.4%). After multiple binary logistic regression, anosmia was statistically associated with female gender (p = 0.001;ORIC95%:2.46 [1.4-4.2]) and blue-collar occupational category (p = 0.002;ORIC95%:3.1 [1.5-6.5]). A significant association was also noted between the presence of anosmia and professional seniority (p = 0.019;OR IC95%: 0.97 [0.95-0.99]) and the duration of work (p = 0.03;OR IC95%: 0.97 [0.95-0.99]). Conclusion(s): Although anosmia seems to be frequent in COVID-19 patients, there is still not enough evidence to affirm that it is a strong predictor of the diagnosis of COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
IntroductionOver time, the phenomenon of persistent symptoms after COVID-19 infection has evolved from non-specific symptoms to a clinical entity known as post-covid-19 syndrome, which can lead to disabilities. The aim of this study is assess the impact of post-Covid-19 syndrome on health professionals and its implications on professional activity.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional, analytical study conducted over a two-month period and including all health care staff at the Nabeul University Hospital. The evaluation of work productivity was carried out by the questionnaire‘Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire'.ResultsOur study involved 89 health workers. The average age of the population was 41.2±10.6 years with a sex ratio of 0.63. Nurses were the most represented occupational group (59.6%). The majority of participants were infected once and in February 2021 (55.1% of cases). General signs were the most reported and were dominated by fever (51.6%). Post-covid-19 syndrome was reported in 44 patients (49.4% of cases). The main persistent symptoms were headache (61.3%), asthenia (59%), and dyspnea (31.8%).The drop in productivity and daily activities were significantly higher in patients who developed post-covid-19 syndrome;p=0,015 and p=0,002 respectively. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of absenteeism and presenteeism (p=0.42 and p=0.2 respectively).ConclusionGuidelines for the management of post-COVID syndrome based on established criteria are needed to enhance its outcome.
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Introduction: Health care workers (HCWs) are a high-risk group for SARS-CoV-2 infection, therefore there is an urgent need for rapid, simple, and sensitive tests to diagnose COVID-19 infection among health care settings. Aim(s): The aim of our study was to assess the contribution of the SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid diagnostic tests (AgRDTs) with RT-PCR which is the gold standard for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Method(s): A retrospective descriptive study of HCWs at Charles Nicolle Hospital who consulted the Occupational Medicine health Department during the period from January 3, 2022, to January 31, 2022, for symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 infection. The Panbio antigen rapid diagnostic tests were used in all suspected cases. In case of negative Ag-RDTs, we completed with RT-PCR. Result(s): Our population consisted mainly of nurses (n=146), blue-collar workers (n=100), trainees (n=105) and senior technicians (n=84). We performed 638 Ag-RDTs and 177 RT-PCR during the study period. Ag-RDTs were positive in 461 cases (72.25%). 146 HCPs tested negative by both methods. Discordant results were obtained in 31 cases (17.51%). RT-PCR was positive in 31 cases. Conclusion(s): In our series, the Ag -RDT seems a reliable way for the diagnosis of covid 19 in symptomatic HCWs.
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Background: Post-COVID-19 conditions are defined as new, recurring, or ongoing health issues which present weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The gastrointestinal (GI) involvement of COVID-19 suggests that a group of patients with lingering GI symptoms may develop Post-COVID-19 DGBI including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Schmulson M et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116:4-7). In this study, we aimed to determine the epidemiological features of Post-COVID-19 DGBI. Methods: Subjects with confirmed COVID-19 at least 6 months before the study who had sustained GI symptoms were invited to complete an internet-based survey on Qualtrics, between March and August 2021. The survey included demographics, acute symptoms, comorbidities, as well as Rome IV questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 for depression. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and multivariate analysis. Findings were reported as percentage or [p-value;(95% odds ratio CI)]. Results: Overall, 164 subjects (70% female, 14% male, and others unknown) with a positive COVID-19 test completed the survey. Among them, 4% were >65 years old and 24% reported hospitalization. Body mass index ³30 was present in 38%, diabetes in 6.7%, and vitamin D deficiency in 11% of the participants. In total, 108 (66%) subjects fulfilled Rome IV criteria for at least one DGBI. Of 108 with DGBI, only 27 (25%) had DGBI before COVID-19;DGBI developed in 81 subjects after COVID-19. The most common Post-COVID-19 DGBI were functional dyspepsia observed in 38 (postprandial distress syndrome n=31, epigastric pain syndrome n=22) followed by IBS in 26 subjects (IBS with Diarrhea n=7, IBS with Constipation n=4, Mixed-IBS n=14, Unsubtyped IBS n=1) (Table-1). The risk factors of severe COVID-19 including age >65, diabetes, and obesity were not associated with developing Post-COVID- 19 DGBI. Seventy (86%) of subjects with Post-COVID-19 DGBI had at least one GI symptom (abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, and/or diarrhea) in the acute phase of COVID-19. Nausea/ vomiting during the acute illness increased [p-value of 0.02 with 95% OR CI (0.7-10.4)], and BMI less than 25 also increased the odds [p-value of 0.03 (95% OR CI: 0.26-8.4)] for Post-COVID-19 IBS. Anxiety was present in 48% and depression in 65% of subjects with Post-COVID-19 DGBI. Conclusions: Post-COVID-19 DGBI are new entities associated with a high rate of anxiety and depression. Although the majority of those with Post-COVID-19 DGBI reported having GI symptoms in the acute illness, some appeared in subjects without acute GI symptoms. (Table Presented)