Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 during the early phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a cross-sectional study among medical school physicians and residents employed in a regional reference teaching hospital in Northern Italy

• Authors: Guglielmo Dini , Alfredo Montecucco , Alborz Rahmani , Chiara Barletta , Luca Pellegrini , Nicoletta Debarbieri , Andrea Orsi , Patrizia Caligiuri , Serena Varesano , Alessia Manca , Maria Paola Vargiu , Pia Di Carlo , Emanuela Massa , Giancarlo Icardi , Paolo Durando

Abstracts

EN

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical presentation and burden of SARS-CoV-2 infections among medical school physicians and residents, mainly young medical doctors. The awareness of COVID‑19 clinical manifestations can improve the early detection of mild cases, possibly reducing further transmission to colleagues and patients.Material and MethodsThe study was carried out in March–May 2020, involving medical school physicians in a teaching hospital in northern Italy, with a working population of 881 medical doctors. Data collection was performed using a structured form investigating clinical and epidemiological information.ResultsOne hundred sixty-two medical doctors contacted the Occupational Health Service reporting acute respiratory symptoms or close contact exposure to a confirmed COVID‑19 case. Among the confirmed COVID‑19 cases, most were male doctors during residency, and 85% presented a mild clinical picture. Fever (70.3%) and cough (51.4%) represented the most prevalent symptoms of COVID‑19. As revealed by the univariate analysis, the prevalence of real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positivity increased with age (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02–1.14, p = 0.012), working in a COVID‑19 ward (OR = 3.33, 95% CI: 1.09–10.21, p = 0.031), presenting alteration or loss of smell/taste (OR = 10.00, 95%CI: 2.80–35.69, p < 0.001) and myalgia (OR = 3.20, 95% CI: 1.00–10.26, p = 0.046), while being a resident (OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05–0.80, p = 0.030) was associated with reduced odds of being infected, compared to staff physicians. Age and loss of smell/taste were the only factors independently associated with RT-PCR positivity.ConclusionsThe majority of COVID‑19 cases showed a mild clinical syndrome, ranging from absence or paucity of symptoms to common cold or influenza-like symptoms. The findings of the present study increase the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis for the prompt identification and management of suspected COVID‑19 cases, being particularly useful during resurges of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Keywords

EN

occupational health; epidemiology; healthcare workers; clinical characteristics; COVID‑19; SARS-CoV-2

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2021
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 189-201

Dates

published

2021

Contributors

author

Guglielmo Dini

• University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL))
• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Occupational Medicine Unit)

author

Alfredo Montecucco

• University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL))
• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Occupational Medicine Unit)

author

Alborz Rahmani

• University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL))
• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Occupational Medicine Unit)

author

Chiara Barletta

• University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL))
• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Occupational Medicine Unit)

author

Luca Pellegrini

• University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL))
• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Occupational Medicine Unit)

author

Nicoletta Debarbieri

• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Occupational Medicine Unit)

author

Andrea Orsi

• University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL))
• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Hygiene Unit)

author

Patrizia Caligiuri

• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Hygiene Unit)

author

Serena Varesano

• University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL))
• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Hygiene Unit)

author

Alessia Manca

• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Occupational Medicine Unit)

author

Maria Paola Vargiu

• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Occupational Medicine Unit)

author

Pia Di Carlo

• University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL))
• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Occupational Medicine Unit)

author

Emanuela Massa

• University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL))

author

Giancarlo Icardi

• University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL))
• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Hygiene Unit)

author

Paolo Durando

• University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL))
• IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy (Occupational Medicine Unit)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01759

Biblioteka Nauki

2086076