[Occupational diseases in Poland in 2020]. / Choroby zawodowe w Polsce w 2020 roku.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to analyze the epidemiological situation regarding the occurrence of occupational diseases in Poland in 2020 and to define possible directions for recommendations regarding preventive actions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cases of occupational diseases identified in accordance with the Polish judicial system and reported to the Central Register of Occupational Diseases in 2020 were analyzed. The analysis took into account disease entities, causal factors, gender, age of patients, exposure period, NACE section and territorial differentiation. Data are presented in absolute numbers and incidence rates per 100 000 employed and 100 000 employed persons. RESULTS: In 2020, 1850 cases of occupational diseases were diagnosed in Poland (11.5 cases per 100 000 employees). The disease entities with the highest incidence were infectious or parasitic diseases, pneumoconiosis, chronic diseases of the voice organ, diseases of the peripheral nervous system, diseases of the locomotor system and hearing loss. Over 90% of the statements concerned people >45 years of age. Most of the identified occupational diseases arose after at least 10 years of work in exposure to a harmful factor, and 73.9% of cases concerned people with over 20 years of work experience in exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological situation in the field of occupational diseases in our country indicates a disturbing phenomenon, which is the persistence of a high level of pneumoconiosis of hard coal miners. The reflection of the effects of the pandemic in the COVID-19 incidence statistics as an occupational disease in 2020 is small. It is expected that the number of these cases will increase sharply in the coming years. Med Pr. 2022;73(5):427-33.

Facial ulcers in patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICU: review of the evidence.

OBJECTIVE: Many patients with COVID-19 admitted to intensive care undergo prone positioning. These patients are at risk of developing facial pressure ulcers (PUs). This study aimed to identify evidence-based recommendations to prevent or reduce their incidence. METHOD: A multi-case study was undertaken using secondary data published between November 2020 and April 2021 discussing facial PUs in patients with COVID-19. CINAHL and MEDLINE electronic databases were analysed. Sixteen publications met the inclusion criteria. The overall quality of evidence was low. RESULT: Studies reported a high incidence of facial PUs. The evidence suggests key preventive areas are skin assessment, pressure-redistribution surfaces, eye coverings, education, medical devices and prophylactic dressings. Recommendations included skin cleaning and moisturising, eye coverings, replacing endotracheal tube holders and using hydrocolloid or film dressings. CONCLUSION: Considering the severe implications for patients and healthcare systems caused by facial PUs, ICUs should develop strategies to prevent and minimise them.

Factors behind higher COVID-19 recovery and lower fatality rates in India - Need for a focused study

It is an undisputed fact that the COVID-19 recovery rate of 97.6% and the death per million of 314 in India (as of 28 Aug 2021) are significantly better than the corresponding values in the USA, UK, France, Italy, Spain, and most of Europe, which have much better health infrastructure. Even though the population of the USA is only one-fourth that of India, the number of lives lost in the USA due to COVID is unfortunately 1.5 times that of India. Similarly, the population of Brazil is marginally lower than that of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, but the fatalities in Brazil are 32.2% higher than that of the whole of India. Clearly, this necessitates a detailed scientific study on the causative factors behind these striking differences. It is time to study what factors cause recovery with minimal medical intervention and what lifestyle and other factors are correlated to serious complications, leading to belated recovery and sometimes death. Obesity, excessive consumption of alcohol, soft drinks, ultra-processed meat, processed food, and maida-sugar baked items may have a role to play in the health scenario in USA. On the other hand, the use of turmeric, black pepper, ginger, lemon, etc. in daily cooking and the enormous increase in awareness and the consequent consumption of Indian gooseberry, Tulasi, different decoctions (Kashaya) and the practice of various immune-boosting and breathing exercises and yogasanas might have had a role in the Indian medical scenario. A detailed study involving a sizable number of cases of recovery and death in India, Brazil, the USA, and some European countries will throw light on the causative factors behind the significant differences. The results shall provide crucial learning for managing future waves and pandemics. © 2021 IEEE.