Descriptive analysis of occupational COVID-19 disease in health workers, Argentina, 2020

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The HCWs have the highest occupational exposure to the contagion of SARS-CoV-2. The increase in infection and mortality affects health systems. The recognition of COVID-19 as an Occupational Disease was a fundamental protection measure. The objective of this article was to make a description of OD due to COVID-19 among HCWs during the first 10 months of the pandemic. METHODS. Unpublished data were requested from the Superintendency of Occupational Hazards (SOH) on HCWs with OD according to sex, age, occupation y province. Incidence, mortality and lethality were calculated among HCWs. The number of records analyzed was 49,307. RESULTS. The Accumulated Incidence in the Occupational Hazard System (OHS) was 1,479.6 infected and 6 deaths, for every 10,000 insured. The incidence among HCWs is double that of the general working- age population. During 2020 there were 171 OD per day and 1 death every other day. 69% of the infections affected women, while 66% of the deaths were men. Nursing accounted for 54% of infections and 58% among deaths, while among physicians they were 28% and 32%, respectively. DISCUSSION. 21% of HCWs would not have reported their infection as OD, but the notification problem must be sought in the provinces. The incidence for HCWs in our country was higher than that reported in the bibliography. It is necessary to investigate the occupational determination in the HCWs. Legislation must definitely incorporate COVID-19 into the list of OD.