Frequency, Associated Risk Factors, and Characteristics of COVID-19 Among Healthcare Personnel in a Spanish Health Department

Algado-Sellés, Natividad; Gras-Valentí, Paula; Chico-Sánchez, Pablo; Mora-Muriel, Juan G.; Soler-Molina, Victor M.; Hernández-Maldonado, María; Lameiras-Azevedo, Ana-Sofía; Jiménez-Sepúlveda, Natali J.; Gómez-Sotero, Isel-Lilibeth; Villanueva-Ruiz, Cesar O.; Barrenengoa-Sañudo, Julio; Fuster-Pérez, Marina; Cánovas-Javega, Sandra; Cerezo-Milan, Patricia; Palmer, Miranda Monerris; Esclapez, Ana; Cartagena-Llopis, Lidia; García-Rivera, Claudia; Martínez-Tornero, Iluminada; Morante, Verónica Nadal; Merino-Lucas, Esperanza; Rodriguez-Diaz, Juan C.; Vidal-Catala, Inmaculada; Llorens-Soriano, Pere; Inocencio, David San; Gil-Carbonell, Joan; Montiel-Higuero, Inés; Sánchez-Vela, Pablo; Sánchez-Payá, José

Introduction This study examines the frequency, associated factors, and characteristics of healthcare personnel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in a healthcare department that comprises a tertiary hospital and its associated 12 primary healthcare centers. Methods This study included healthcare personnel that showed symptoms or were in contact with a COVID-19 case patient from March 2 to April 19, 2020. Their evolution and characteristics (age, sex, professional category, type of contact) were recorded. Correlations between the different characteristics and risk of developing COVID-19 and severe COVID-19 were analyzed using chi-square tests. Their magnitudes were quantified with ORs, AORs, and their 95% CIs using a logistic regression model. Results Of the 3,900 healthcare professionals in the department, 1,791 (45.9%) showed symptoms or were part of a contact tracing study. The prevalence of those with symptoms was 20.1% (784/3,900; 95% CI=18.8%, 21.4%), with COVID-19 was 4.0% (156/3,900; 95% CI=3.4%, 4.6%), and with severe COVID-19 was 0.5% (18/3,900; 95% CI=0.2%, 0.7%). The frequency of COVID-19 in symptomatic healthcare personnel with a non-protected exposure was 22.8% (112/491) and 13.7% (40/293) in those with a protected exposure (AOR=2.2, 95% CI=1.2, 3.9). The service in which the healthcare personnel performed their activity was not significantly associated with being diagnosed with COVID-19. A total of 26.3% (10/38) of male healthcare personnel with COVID-19 required hospitalization, compared with 6.8% (8/118) among female healthcare personnel (OR=4.9, 95% CI=1.8, 13.6). Conclusions A surveillance and monitoring program centered around healthcare personnel enables an understanding of the risk factors that lead to COVID-19 among this population. This knowledge allows the refinement of the strategies for disease control and prevention in healthcare personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.