Healthcare Workers after Two Years of COVID-19: The Consequences of the Pandemic on Psychological Health and Sleep among Nurses and Physicians

Alfonsi, Valentina; Scarpelli, Serena; Gorgoni, Maurizio; Couyoumdjian, Alessandro; Rosiello, Francesco; Sandroni, Cinzia; Corsi, Roberto; Pietrantonio, Filomena; Gennaro, Luigi De

doi:10.3390/ijerph20021410

Cited by 26 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(63 reference statements)

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“…The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, a highly transmissible zoonotic infection caused by SARS-CoV2, has resulted in a global health crisis not witnessed since the 1918 Spanish Flu Influenza pandemic 1 and consequences for both patients and healthcare workers 2 . Since clinical manifestations include a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms 3 —ranging from asymptomatic infections to acute respiratory distress syndrome and death—considerable efforts have been devoted to identifying the subset of patients at highest risk of disease progression 4 , 5 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anemia as a risk factor for disease progression in patients admitted for COVID-19: data from a large, multicenter cohort study

Veronese

Segala

Carruba

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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In respiratory infections, anemia is both a consequence of acute inflammation and a predictor of poor clinical outcomes. There are few studies investigating the role of anemia in COVID-19, suggesting a potential role in predicting disease severity. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between the presence of anemia at admission and incidence of severe disease and death in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Data from all adult patients admitted for COVID-19 in University Hospital “P. Giaccone” Palermo, and University Hospital of Bari, Italy, were retrospectively collected from 1st of September 2020 to 31 August 2022. The association between anemia (defined as Hb < 13 g/dl and < 12 g/dl in males and females, respectively), in-hospital mortality and severe COVID-19 was tested using a Cox’s regression analysis. Severe COVID-19 forms were defined as admission to intensive or sub-intensive care unit or a qSOFAscore ≥ 2 or CURB65scores ≥ 3. p values were calculated using the Student’s t test for continuous variables and the Mantel–Haenszel Chi-square test for categorical ones. The association between anemia and the mortality was made using a Cox’s regression analysis, adjusted, in two models, for the potential confounders and using a propensity score. Among the 1562 patients included in the analysis, prevalence of anemia was 45.1% (95% CI 43–48%). Patients with anemia were significantly older (p < 0.0001), reported more co-morbidities, and presented higher baseline levels of procalcitonin, CRP, ferritin and IL-6. Overall, the crude incidence of mortality was about four times higher in patients with anemia compared to those without. After adjusting for 17 potential confounders, the presence of anemia significantly increased the risk of death (HR = 2.68; 95% CI: 1.59–4.52) and of risk of severe COVID-19 (OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.65–3.24). The propensity score analysis substantially confirmed these analyses. Our study provides evidence that, in patients hospitalized for COVID-19, anemia is both associated with a more pronounced baseline pro-inflammatory profile and higher incidence of in-hospital mortality and severe disease.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anemia as a risk factor for disease progression in patients admitted for COVID-19: data from a large, multicenter cohort study

Veronese

Segala

Carruba

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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“…Furthermore, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and sleep habits of Italian HCW, especially nurses and medical doctors, were evaluated by Alfonsi V et al (2023). The findings revealed that both groups were negatively affected by the pandemic, though nurses experienced a greater distress, with a significant worsening of various psychological and sleep-related symptoms over time [64] .…”

Section: Discussion and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Covid-19 pandemic? Mental health implications among nurses and Proposed interventions

Georgousopoulou,

Pervanidou,

Perdikaris

et al. 2024

AIMSPH

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<abstract><sec> <title>Background</title> With its abrupt and huge health and socio-economic consequences, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a uniquely demanding, intensely stressful, and even traumatic period. Healthcare workers (HCW), especially nurses, were exposed to mental health challenges during those challenging times. </sec><sec> <title>Objectives</title> Review the current literature on mental health problems among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients. </sec><sec> <title>Methods</title> This is a narrative review and critical evaluation of relevant publications. </sec><sec> <title>Results</title> Nurses experienced higher levels of stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, frustration, stigma, and depersonalization compared to other HCW. Factors that increased this symptomatology included concerns about infection or infection of family members, inadequate staff protective equipment, extended working hours, insufficient information, a reduced sense of security, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The factors that improved the psychopathology included a general positive attitude, job satisfaction, adequate information and education, harmonious group relationships, post-traumatic development, emotional intelligence, psychological counseling, mindfulness-based stress reduction, stable leadership, guidance, and moral and practical administrative support. </sec><sec> <title>Conclusions</title> Recent studies clearly show that nurses, especially women, are the most vulnerable subgroup among HCW and are particularly prone to mental health impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The documented mental health vulnerability of frontline nursing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic requires preventive nursing management actions to increase resilience and to develop relevant defense mechanisms. </sec></abstract>

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“…A study done in Italy among healthcare professionals attributed sleep disturbances to psychological stress and women were at more risk. The study also stressed that better coping strategies must be adopted by healthcare professionals and healthcare institutes must reinforce them so that there are no long time mental health consequences after COVID infection among HCWs [ 31 ]. The preliminary research shows the possible reasons why repeated infections can alter the sleep cycle.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-COVID Quality of Life and Sleep Among Younger Healthcare Workers of Designated COVID Care Centers: A Cross-Sectional Study

TS¹,

KK²,

Bhavanam³

et al. 2023

Cureus

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Introduction Frontline healthcare workers (FLHCWs) have been persuaded to work this coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic way in and out but the pandemic has not subsided. The persistence of symptoms after COVID infection, especially chest symptoms like early fatigue with breathlessness, has been documented very well. However, FLHCWs have repeatedly caught the COVID infection and have been working in traumatic and helpless situations since the pandemic started. Post-COVID infection, quality of life (QOL) and sleep are greatly affected, regardless of the time elapsed since discharge or recovery. The continuous assessment of COVID-infected persons for post-COVID sequelae is an important and effective step to reduce complications. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted for a period of one year at R.L. Jalappa Hospital and Research Center, Kolar, and SNR District Hospital, Kolar, which were designated COVID care centers. FLHCWs working in these centers who had contracted COVID infection at least once, who were more than 18 years and less than 30 years, and who had experience of less than five years irrespective of their vaccination status were included in the study. FLHCWs with COVID-related health illnesses, which needed ICU admission and prolonged hospital admission, were excluded. To assess QOL, the WHO Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used. To assess sleepiness, the Epworth daytime sleepiness scale was used. The study was started after the institutional ethical committee's clearance was obtained. Results A total of 201 healthcare workers (HCWs) completed the survey. Of the participants, 119 (59.2%) were male, 107 (53.2%) were junior residents, 134 (66.7%) were unmarried, and 171 (85.1%) said they followed regular shifts. Male HCWs had higher scores in the psychological, social relationship, and environmental domains of QoL. Consultants had higher scores in all domains of QoL. Married HCWs had higher scores in the physical, psychological, and social relationship domains of QoL. Out of 201 FLHCWs, 67 (33.3%) had moderate excessive daytime sleep, and 25 (12.4%) had severe excessive daytime sleep. Few factors like gender, occupation, duration of work in the hospital, and regular shifts were statistically significant factors associated with daytime sleepiness. Conclusion The present study has shown that even after the COVID vaccination doses received by the HCWs, sleep and Qol have still been impaired among infected younger healthcare staff. Acceptable and righteous efforts must be made by the institutions for proper policymaking to manage such infectious outbreaks in the future.

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Healthcare Workers after Two Years of COVID-19: The Consequences of the Pandemic on Psychological Health and Sleep among Nurses and Physicians

Cited by 26 publications

References 51 publications

Anemia as a risk factor for disease progression in patients admitted for COVID-19: data from a large, multicenter cohort study

Anemia as a risk factor for disease progression in patients admitted for COVID-19: data from a large, multicenter cohort study

Covid-19 pandemic? Mental health implications among nurses and Proposed interventions

Post-COVID Quality of Life and Sleep Among Younger Healthcare Workers of Designated COVID Care Centers: A Cross-Sectional Study

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