Assessment of the influence of non-ionizing radiation to the morbidity of MRI and ultrasound diagnostics specialists in Kazakhstan

Abstract

Abstract The state of health of healthcare practitioners with occupational exposure to a complex of hazards may differ from the state of health of general population and justify the need to develop a number of preventive measures for healthcare practitioners. The purpose of the study was assessment of the prevalence of morbidity among medical specialists (MRI and ultrasound diagnostics). Design: retrospective (2018-2021), nonrandomized. Participants: MRI and ultrasound diagnostics specialists, ophthalmologists (as control). An analysis of data on healthcare practitioners seeking for medical care was done (diagnosis by ICD-10). Morbidity was also compared with general population of the RK. Higher morbidity of healthcare practitioners of the listed above specialties with genitourinary and musculoskeletal systems diseases, eye diseases and oncopathology was revealed. Comparing with ophthalmologists, ultrasound diagnostic specialists had higher morbidity with malignant and benign neoplasms (RR 2.74 and RR 9.58, respectively), MRI specialists had higher morbidity with malignant neoplasms and blood diseases (RR 4.73 and RR 1.89, respectively). The incidence rates of SARS-COV-2 in MRI and ultrasound diagnostic specialists and ophthalmologists exceeded those in the general population of the RK. Identified features of the morbidity of healthcare practitioners should be taken into account in labor ergonomics and organization of preventive and screening measures for diagnosing diseases.