An Observational Retrospective Study on Symptoms and Risk Factors Analysis of Covid19 Among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care hospital of Eastern India

Abstract

Introduction: Coronavirus is a single strand positive sense RNA virus, leading to respiratory, intestinal and other symptoms .The SARS COV2 infection has rapidly grown into a pandemic.Aims and Objectives : To evaluate the clinical features and risk factors of COVID 19 among HCWs. Materials and Methods: After taking ethical consent and patient consent, the study was conducted in the Medicine department of RKMSP for 5 months with 658 HCWs who were in contact with Covid 19 positive cases. HCWs who developed fever or other symptoms suggestive of COVID 19 infection were tested with RT PCR of SARS COV 2. Positive cases were included in the study and those who came negative were retested after 5 days and were included in the study,with a repeat positive test.The patients were admitted in dedicated COVID wards and observed for 10 days from symptom onset.The symptoms were assessed at regular intervals with monitoring of vitalparametersSpO2, urine output .They were classified as mild, moderate and severe as per ICMR Criteria. Risk factors such as age ,DM, HTN, BMI, bronchial asthma, smoking, COPD etc. were noted.Results: 52 symptomatic HCWs tested positive for COVID 19 RT PCR (7.90%)(4 cases were positive on re testing.)Males constituted76.92% of cases.All cases over 60 years of age had severe symptoms and 10 cases who were between 41-60 years had moderate symptoms and rest all were mildly symptomatic.(73.07%) and most of them were between 31-40 years(26.92%).Median age in mild ,moderate and severe cases were33.50 years,55.00 years and 64.50 years respectively .26.92% were doctors,7.69% were nurses,7.69% were technicians and 57.69% were Group D staffs.Conclusion:The study showed that despite taking adequate protection, there is an increased risk of infection among HCWs leading to acute shortage of manpower for Health care service.