Notified Occupational Diseases Among Healthcare Workers in a Portuguese Hospital and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from a 5-year period
Safety and Health at Work
; 13:S212, 2022.
Article
in English
| EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1677141
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Occupational diseases are annually responsible for the death of approximately 2.0 million people worldwide. Healthcare workers are at higher risk of developing several occupational diseases such as infectious diseases, musculoskeletal disorders and mental distress. This study aims to provide a profile of the main notified occupational diseases and the affected workers in a Portuguese hospital over the last 5 years. Materials andMethods:
A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using data from the Occupational Health Service of Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga for the notified occupational diseases in hospital workers between July of 2016 and June of 2021. Results andConclusions:
A total of 355 cases of occupational diseases were notified among hospital workers in these 5 years. Our data showed that COVID-19 infection was the most reported disease since the onset of the current pandemic, with a total of 269 cases, 72 in the year 2020 and 197 in the first semester of 2021. Musculoskeletal disorders were the second most notified group of diseases, representing about 20% of all cases, and the most commonly reported diseases in the pre-pandemic years. Occupational diseases were more prevalent in nurses, followed by hospital aides and physicians. The notification of these diseases was highest among female workers. Ultimately, changes in working conditions and the introduction of new agents may give rise to emerging occupational health risks and diseases. The detection and investigation of these new diseases are essential from a perspective of early recognition and prevention.
adult; conference abstract; controlled study; coronavirus disease 2019; female; female worker; health care personnel; hospital personnel; human; major clinical study; musculoskeletal disease; nurse; observational study; occupational disease; occupational health; occupational health service; pandemic; physician; work environment
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
EMBASE
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
Language:
English
Journal:
Safety and Health at Work
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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