The Impact of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers: An Italian Retrospective Study

Giuliana Buresti, Bruna Maria Rondinone, Diana Gagliardi, Marta Petyx, Fortunato Paolo D’Ancona, Patrizio Pezzotti, Flavia Riccardo and Sergio Iavicoli
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Giuliana Buresti: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Via Fontana Candida 1, Monteporzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
Bruna Maria Rondinone: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Via Fontana Candida 1, Monteporzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
Diana Gagliardi: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Via Fontana Candida 1, Monteporzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
Marta Petyx: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Via Fontana Candida 1, Monteporzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
Fortunato Paolo D’Ancona: Department of Infectious Diseases, Italian Institute of Health (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Patrizio Pezzotti: Department of Infectious Diseases, Italian Institute of Health (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Flavia Riccardo: Department of Infectious Diseases, Italian Institute of Health (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Sergio Iavicoli: Directorate-General for Communication and European and International Relations, Italian Ministry of Health, Viale Giorgio Ribotta 5, 00144 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: Healthcare workers (HCWs) played an essential role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. The Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL) and the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) developed a retrospective study to analyze and understand trends and characteristics of infections among HCWs during the first wave of the pandemic. Between May and September 2020, Italian Regions retrospectively collected anonymous data regarding HCWs infected from the beginning of the pandemic until 30 April 2020 from their administrative sources through a questionnaire asking for socio-demographic and occupational information about the characteristics of contagion and disease outcome. Almost 16,000 valid questionnaires were received. Logistic regression was performed to ascertain the effect of age, gender, geographical macro area, profession, and pre-existing health conditions on the likelihood of HCWs developing more severe forms of COVID-19 (at least hospitalization with mild symptoms). All predictor variables were statistically significant. HCWs at higher risk of developing a more severe disease were males (OR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.44–2.51), older than 60 years of age (OR: 6.00; 95% CI: 3.30–10.91), doctors (OR: 4.22; 95% CI: 2.22–9.02), working in Lombardy (OR: 55.24; 95% CI: 34.96–87.29) and with pre-existing health conditions (OR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.43–2.51). This study analyses the main reasons for the overload put on the National Health Service by the first wave of the pandemic and the risk of infection for HCWs by age, gender, occupational profile and pre-existing health conditions. Improved knowledge, availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and a tight vaccination campaign for HCWs strongly changed the trend of infections among HCWs, with substantial elimination of serious and fatal cases.

Keywords: COVID-19; healthcare workers (HCWs); retrospective study; incidence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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