COVID-19 Risk Factors in Frontline Healthcare Workers in Mashhad University Hospitals

ABSTRACT

Background: During the pandemic of COVID-19, Healthcare Workers (HCWs) have been at the forefront of infection;they could also carry the disease to the others. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, HCWs in five hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences were included from 20 March to 21 July, 2020. HCWs were divided into two categories of frontline and second-line. The checklist was researcher-made and was on the basis of WHO risk factors regarding COVID-19, MERS and SARS. The participants were analyzed. The participants were asked, via phone call, to answer questions in 3 sections of demographics, probable risk factors, and clinical manifestations. The need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and its availability were also evaluated. Results: From among 534 HCWs included in this study, 197(57.6%) were females;most of them were nurses, and the mean +/- SD age was 36.02 +/- 8.5 years. Eighteen HCWs were hospitalized due to the severity of disease, most of whom were front-line HCWs. Malaise (78.7%), fever (68.1%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (63.7%) were the most common manifestations in the participants. Smoking (OR=0.078, P=0.001) and underlying diseases (OR=2.19, P=0.025) were known as the factors predicting HCWs hospitalization. Being smoker and participating in intubation procedure were independent predictors of hospitalization in HCWs. Conclusion: Frontline HCWs had a significantly higher risk of COVID-19 infection, as compared to the second-line group. Although adequate supplies of PPE are necessary, they do not completely mitigate high-risk exposures.