Prevalence and Predisposing Factors Associated with Covid-۱۹ Disease among Anesthesia Healthcare Providers

Introduction: Covid-۱۹ pandemic has put high pressure on the anesthesia healthcare workforce due to imposing heavy workload as well as high risk of disease transmission. Identifying the risk factors for the disease is the first step to reduce the risk of infection. We aimed to assess the prevalence and the risk factors of COVID-۱۹ among anesthesia healthcare workers.Materials and Method: Between June and September ۲۰۲۰, ۱۹۹ members including faculty anesthesiologists working in public teaching hospitals, anesthesia assistants, anesthesia technicians, and nurses working in Covid-۱۹ and non-Covid-۱۹ care units were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire including demographics, medical history, job category, history of presence in areas with Covid-۱۹ epidemic, use of safety tips, current clinical manifestations and the results of COVID-۱۹ tests was sent by email to the healthcare workers. Evidence of COVID-۱۹ disease according to WHO diagnostic recommendations, was assessed in all participants.Results: Of ۱۹۹ participants in our study, ۴۳.۷% were Covid-۱۹ positive and ۵۶.۳% had no evidence of Covid-۱۹ disease. Comparison of the two groups of personnel with and without Covid-۱۹ disease showed no differences in demographics and blood groups. While, physicians were more infected than nurses and presence of infected cases in COVID zone was much longer. Regarding observance of safety points, there was no difference between the personnel with and without Covid-۱۹ but using filtered N۹۵ masks was significantly more prevalent in infected cases (p = ۰.۰۱۹). During follow-up, ۳۸.۰% of infected cases showed some evidence of end organ damages including cardiac complications in ۴.۳% and renal dysfunction in ۴.۳%.Conclusion:  Our study showed a high rate of Covid-۱۹ infection in anesthesia personnel involving in the care centers of patients with Covid-۱۹. Using filtered N۹۵ masks could not effectively protect the personnel against Covid-۱۹ infection. History of presence in epidemic areas and working in Covid-۱۹ patients’ wards were identified as the main risk factor for Covid-۱۹ infection among personnel.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , Healthcare providers , Prevention