Determinants of Severity of COVID-19 Infection Among Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt | ||||
| Journal of High Institute of Public Health | ||||
| Article 4, Volume 52, Issue 3, December 2022, Page 124-129 PDF (320.35 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jhiph.2023.291704 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Rania A. Hussein  1; Engy M. El-Ghitany 2; Ehab G. Elmongui3; Dalia Ismail4; Hossam M. Hassan5; Mohamed K. Gomaa6
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| 1Department of Internal Medicine, Gamal Abdel Nasser Hospital, Health Insurance Organization, Alexandria, Egypt | ||||
| 2Department of Tropical Health, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt | ||||
| 3Department of Biostatistics, North-West Branch of Health Insurance Organization, Alexandria, Egypt | ||||
| 4Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Gamal Abdel Nasser Hospital, Health Insurance Organization, Alexandria, Egypt | ||||
| 5Department of Clinical Research, North-West Branch of Health Insurance Organization, Alexandria, Egypt | ||||
| 6Department of Pulmonology, Gamal Abdel Nasser Hospital, Health Insurance Organization, Alexandria, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Egypt joined several countries in immunizing her citizens with COVID19 vaccines; a priority was given to health care workers (HCWs), then to patients with chronic diseases. However, HCWs are exposed to a higher viral load; in addition, asymptomatic infection is commoner among them, thus potentially exposing them to a more severe illness. Objective(s): To identify the determinants of the severity of COVID-19 infection among HCWs. Methods: A case control study was conducted, where we recruited HCWs diagnosed as moderate or severe COVID-19 from isolation and critical care units; and compared their vaccination exposure with that among matched controls. A data collection sheet was filled by residents and included information about mask wearing, comorbidities, smoking, and COVID-19 manifestations. Results: The predictors that significantly affected severity of infection were cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, being a nurse, and mask compliance (OR 17.38 p=0.012 *, OR 5.86, p=0.002*, and OR=0.06, p=0.001 *respectively). Most females, as well as nurses were not vaccinated (90% p= 0.009 *, and 83.3% p=0.016 *respectively). There was no significant difference in mean oxygen saturation between vaccinated and non-vaccinated cases. Conclusion: Among HCWs, the most significantly protective factor against COVID-19 moderate and severe illness was mask compliance. Furthermore, being a nurse as well as having cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease were significant positive predictors of getting a more severe disease. There was no significant effect of vaccination on severity of COVID19 illness. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| COVID-19; vaccination; severity of infection | ||||
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