1
|
Maltezou HC, Ledda C, Sipsas NV. Absenteeism of Healthcare Personnel in the COVID-19 Era: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Implications for the Post-Pandemic Seasons. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2950. [PMID: 37998442 PMCID: PMC10671277 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11222950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
This systematic review aimed to assess COVID-19-associated absenteeism among healthcare personnel (HCP). PubMed was searched on 4 February 2023. Inclusion criteria were the presentation of original data on COVID-19-associated absenteeism among HCP. Exclusion criteria were absenteeism associated with burnout, mental health illness, post-COVID syndrome, or child-care. Nineteen articles were identified; fifteen concerned almost exclusively the first pandemic year. Hospitals accounted for most data. There was heterogeneity across studies in terms of presentation of absenteeism data. Before COVID-19 vaccines became available, COVID-19 was a major driver of HCP absenteeism with excess costs, while the mean duration of absenteeism ranged from 5.82 to 33 days per episode of absence. Determinant factors of absenteeism rates were department of employment, high-risk exposure, age, profession, and work experience of HCP, suspected COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 testing, SARS-CoV-2 positivity, and return-to-work strategy. Two studies demonstrated that COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduced the burden of absenteeism. Routine testing of asymptomatic HCP and use of personal protective equipment also significantly ameliorated absenteeism. In conclusion, COVID-19 has been a major driver of HCP absenteeism. Research is needed to assess how COVID-19 will impact HCP in the next years, considering the new SARS-CoV-2 variants, the co-circulation of other respiratory viruses, and the newer COVID-19 vaccines. Networks are needed to survey morbidity and absenteeism among HCP in real-time and guide vaccination policies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helena C. Maltezou
- Directorate of Research, Studies and Documentation, National Public Health Organization, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Marousi, 15123 Athens, Greece
| | - Caterina Ledda
- Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 87 Santa Sofia Street, 95124 Catania, Italy;
| | - Nikolaos V. Sipsas
- Pathophysiology Department, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Maltezou HC, Papanikolopoulou A, Vassiliu S, Theodoridou K, Nikolopoulou G, Sipsas NV. COVID-19 and Respiratory Virus Co-Infections: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Viruses 2023; 15:865. [PMID: 37112844 PMCID: PMC10142898 DOI: 10.3390/v15040865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Τhe COVID-19 pandemic highly impacted the circulation, seasonality, and morbidity burden of several respiratory viruses. We reviewed published cases of SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory virus co-infections as of 12 April 2022. SARS-CoV-2 and influenza co-infections were reported almost exclusively during the first pandemic wave. It is possible that the overall incidence of SARS-CoV-2 co-infections is higher because of the paucity of co-testing for respiratory viruses during the first pandemic waves when mild cases might have been missed. Animal models indicate severe lung pathology and high fatality; nevertheless, the available literature is largely inconclusive regarding the clinical course and prognosis of co-infected patients. Animal models also indicate the importance of considering the sequence timing of each respiratory virus infection; however, there is no such information in reported human cases. Given the differences between 2020 and 2023 in terms of epidemiology and availability of vaccines and specific treatment against COVID-19, it is rational not to extrapolate these early findings to present times. It is expected that the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory virus co-infections will evolve in the upcoming seasons. Multiplex real-time PCR-based assays have been developed in the past two years and should be used to increase diagnostic and infection control capacity, and also for surveillance purposes. Given that COVID-19 and influenza share the same high-risk groups, it is essential that the latter get vaccinated against both viruses. Further studies are needed to elucidate how SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory virus co-infections will be shaped in the upcoming years, in terms of impact and prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helena C. Maltezou
- Directorate of Research, Studies and Documentation, National Public Health Organization, 15123 Athens, Greece
| | - Amalia Papanikolopoulou
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital for Thoracic Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Kalliopi Theodoridou
- Department of Microbiology, Andreas Sygros Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 16121 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia Nikolopoulou
- Department of Hepatitides, National Public Health Organization, 15123 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos V. Sipsas
- Pathophysiology Department, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Endaryanto A, Dewi A, Kusbaryanto, Nugraha RA. Trend in the admissions of patients with non-COVID-19 respiratory symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on hospital finances in surabaya, Indonesia. Heliyon 2023; 9:e15122. [PMID: 37035376 PMCID: PMC10065813 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background COVID-19 cases surge, it has a crucial impact on healthcare systems, with rapidly increasing demand for healthcare resources in hospitals and intensive care units (ICUs) in Indonesia and worldwide. It is necessary to quantify the extent to which the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hospital admissions, and clinical and financial outcomes of patients with non-COVID-19 respiratory symptoms. Objective To determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic changed the hospitalisation of child and adult patients with non-COVID-19 respiratory conditions and whether these changes affected the patient's disease condition, clinical outcomes, and hospital finances. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted from May 1, 2018 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) until December 31, 2021. Total sampling was done to compare hospital admission of patients with non-COVID-19 respiratory symptoms before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and SmartPLS.v.3.2.9. Results There was a reduction in hospitalisations for respiratory disorders unrelated to COVID-19 during the pandemic by 55.3% in children and 47.8% in adult patients. During the pandemic, the average hospital revenue per patient of child and adult patients increased significantly, but the profit per patient decreased. Pathway analysis showed that in children, the COVID-19 Pandemic changed disease severity and complexity (β = 0.132, P < 0.001), as well as clinical outcomes (β = 0.029, P < 0.05). In adults, the COVID-19 pandemic improves disease severity and complexity (β = -0.020, P < 0.001), as well as clinical outcomes (β = -0.013, P < 0.001). COVID-19 pandemic increases care charges (in children with β = 0.135, P < 0.001; and in the adult patients with β = 0.110, P < 0.001), worsens hospital financial outcomes relating to child (β = -0.093, P < 0.001) and adult patient (β = -0.073, P < 0.001). In adult patients, seasonal variations moderate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on improving disease conditions (β = -0.032, P=<0.001). The child structural model effectively predicted clinical outcomes (Q2 = 0.215) and financial outcomes (Q2 = 0.462). The adult structural model effectively predicted clinical outcomes (Q2 = 0.06) and financial outcomes (Q2 = 0.472). Conclusion The conclusions are that the number of non-COVID respiratory patients decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic (47.8% in adult patients, 55.3% in child patients). Disease severity and complexity increased in child patients but decreased in adult patient. Costs of care and insurance payments increased. Since the insurance payments did not increase as much as the cost of care, hospital profit decreased.
Collapse
|
4
|
Maltezou HC, Basoulis D, Bonelis K, Gamaletsou MN, Giannouchos TV, Karantoni E, Karapanou Α, Kounouklas K, Livanou ME, Zotou M, Rapti V, Stamou P, Loulakis D, Souliotis K, Chini M, Panagopoulos P, Poulakou G, Syrigos KN, Hatzigeorgiou D, Sipsas NV. Effectiveness of full (booster) COVID-19 vaccination against severe outcomes and work absenteeism in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during the Delta and Omicron waves in Greece. Vaccine 2023; 41:2343-2348. [PMID: 36740558 PMCID: PMC9892328 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.01.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
AIM We estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) of full (booster) vaccination against severe outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients during the Delta and Omicron waves. METHODS The study extended from November 15, 2021 to April 17, 2022. Full vaccination was defined as a primary vaccination plus a booster ≥ 6 months later. RESULTS We studied 1138 patients (mean age: 66.6 years), of whom 826 (72.6 %) had > 1 comorbidity. Of the 1138 patients, 75 (6.6 %) were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU), 64 (5.6 %) received mechanical ventilation, and 172 (15.1 %) died. There were 386 (33.9 %) fully vaccinated, 172 (15.1 %) partially vaccinated, and 580 (51 %) unvaccinated patients. Unvaccinated patients were absent from work for longer periods compared to partially or fully vaccinated patients (mean absence of 20.1 days versus 12.3 and 17.3 days, respectively; p-value = 0.03). Compared to unvaccinated patients, fully vaccinated patients were less likely to be admitted to ICU [adjusted relative risk (ARR: 0.49; 95 % CI: 0.29-0.84)], mechanically ventilated (ARR: 0.43; 95 % CI: 0.23-0.80), and die (ARR: 0.57; 95 % CI: 0.42-0.78), while they were hospitalized for significantly shorter periods (ARR: 0.79; 95 % CI: 0.70-0.89). The adjusted full VE was 48.8 % (95 % CI: 42.7 %-54.9 %) against ICU admission, 55.4 % (95 % CI: 52.0 %-56.2 %) against mechanical ventilation, and 22.6 % (95 % CI: 7.4 %-34.8 %) against death. For patients with ≥ 3 comorbidities, VE was 56.2 % (95 % CI: 43.9 %-67.1 %) against ICU admission, 60.2 % (95 % CI: 53.7 %-65.4 %) against mechanical ventilation, and 43.9 % (95 % CI: 19.9 %-59.7 %) against death. CONCLUSIONS Full (booster) COVID-19 vaccination conferred protection against severe outcomes, prolonged hospitalization, and prolonged work absenteeism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helena C. Maltezou
- Directorate of Research, Studies and Documentation, National Public Health Organization, Athens, Greece,Corresponding author at: at: Directorate of Research, Studies and Documentation, National Public Health Organization, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123 Greece
| | - Dimitrios Basoulis
- Pathophysiology Department, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Bonelis
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Maria N. Gamaletsou
- Pathophysiology Department, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Theodoros V. Giannouchos
- Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Eleni Karantoni
- Second Clinic of Internal Medicine, COVID-19 Department, 251 Hellenic Air Force General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Αmalia Karapanou
- Infection Control Committee, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Kounouklas
- Second Clinic of Internal Medicine, COVID-19 Department, 251 Hellenic Air Force General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Effrosyni Livanou
- Third Department of Internal Medicine and Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Zotou
- Third Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Unit, Korgialeneio-Benakeio Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Rapti
- Third Department of Internal Medicine and Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Stamou
- Second Clinic of Internal Medicine, COVID-19 Department, 251 Hellenic Air Force General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Loulakis
- Third Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Unit, Korgialeneio-Benakeio Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Kyriakos Souliotis
- Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Peloponnese, Corinth, Greece,Health Policy Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Chini
- Third Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Unit, Korgialeneio-Benakeio Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Periklis Panagopoulos
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Garyfalia Poulakou
- Third Department of Internal Medicine and Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos N. Syrigos
- Third Department of Internal Medicine and Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Nikolaos V. Sipsas
- Pathophysiology Department, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Association between COVID-19 vaccination status, time elapsed since the last vaccine dose, morbidity, and absenteeism among healthcare personnel: A prospective, multicenter study. Vaccine 2022; 40:7660-7666. [PMID: 36372669 PMCID: PMC9597548 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.10.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AIM We assessed the impact of COVID-19 vaccination status and time elapsed since the last vaccine dose on morbidity and absenteeism among healthcare personnel (HCP) in the context of a mandatory vaccination policy. METHODS We followed 7592 HCP from November 15, 2021 through April 17, 2022. Full COVID-19 vaccination was defined as a primary vaccination series plus a booster dose at least six months later. RESULTS There were 6496 (85.6 %) fully vaccinated, 953 (12.5 %) not fully vaccinated, and 143 (1.9 %) unvaccinated HCP. A total of 2182 absenteeism episodes occurred. Of 2088 absenteeism episodes among vaccinated HCP with known vaccination status, 1971 (94.4 %) concerned fully vaccinated and 117 (5.6 %) not fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated HCP had 1.6 fewer days of absence compared to those not fully vaccinated (8.1 versus 9.7; p-value < 0.001). Multivariable regression analyses showed that full vaccination was associated with shorter absenteeism compared to not full vaccination (OR: 0.56; 95 % CI: 0.36-0.87; p-value = 0.01). Compared to a history of ≤ 17.1 weeks since the last dose, a history of > 17.1 weeks since the last dose was associated with longer absenteeism (OR: 1.22, 95 % CI:1.02-1.46; p-value = 0.026) and increased risk for febrile episode (OR: 1.33; 95 % CI: 1.09-1.63; p-value = 0.004), influenza-like illness (OR: 1.53, 95 % CI: 1.02-2.30; p-value = 0.038), and COVID-19 (OR: 1.72; 95 % CI: 1.24-2.39; p-value = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impose a considerable impact on HCP. The administration of a vaccine dose in less than four months before significantly protected against COVID-19 and absenteeism duration, irrespective of COVID-19 vaccination status. Defining the optimal timing of boosters is imperative.
Collapse
|