Covid-19 presentation among symptomatic healthcare workers in Ireland.
Occup Med (Lond)
; 71(2): 95-98, 2021 04 09.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1083185
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
It is recognized that healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of contracting Covid-19. It is incumbent on occupational health staff to recognize potential symptoms of Covid-19 among HCWs.AIMS:
The aims of the study were to describe the presenting symptoms of HCWs who developed Covid-19 in Ireland, and to estimate the odds of specific symptoms being associated with a positive Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result.METHODS:
A retrospective chart review of all symptomatic HCWs who self-presented for Covid-19 testing in Cork from March to May 2020 was conducted. A sex-matched case-control study was carried out to compare presenting features among those who tested positive compared to those who tested negative. Univariate and multivariable-adjusted conditional logistic regression models were run using Stata 15.0 to identify the symptoms associated with positive Covid-19 swab results.RESULTS:
Three hundred and six HCWs were included in the study; 102 cases and 204 controls. Common presenting features among cases were fever/chills (55%), cough (44%) and headache (35%). The symptoms which were significantly associated with a positive Covid-19 swab result were loss of taste/smell (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 12.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36-108.79), myalgia (aOR 2.36, 95% 1.27-4.38), fatigue (aOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.12-4.74), headache (aOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.19-3.74) and fever/chills (aOR 1.88, 95% CI 1.12-3.15).CONCLUSIONS:
Fever, fatigue, myalgia, loss of taste/smell and headache were associated with increased odds of a Covid-19 diagnosis among symptomatic self-referred HCWs compared with those had negative swab results. Testing criteria for HCWs should reflect the broad range of possible symptoms of Covid-19.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Occupational Health
/
Health Personnel
/
Pandemics
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Young adult
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Occup Med (Lond)
Journal subject:
Occupational Medicine
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Occmed
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