Substantiation of the methodology of physiological assessment of the functional state of medical personnel during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction. The work of medical personnel in the extreme conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic is related to the impact of nervous and emotional labor tension, high visual loads, which contributes to the formation of fatigue and overwork and requires the attention of labor physiologists. The study aims to substantiate the methodology of physiological assessment of functional fatigue of medical workers during work in a covid hospital to determine the duration of periods of work in a pandemic. Materials and methods. Comprehensive physiological and hygienic studies of the medical staff of the covid hospital during 6 months of work were aimed at a physiological study of the state of the cardiovascular system with the study of the characteristics of the response to stress loads (ECG registration on a 12-channel electrocardiograph and continuously using Holter monitoring, determination of the vegetative Kerdo index and Kvass endurance coefficient), the study of psychological conditions, hygienic assessment of the intensity of the labor process. The researchers have studied the physiological state of the central nervous system and the visual analyzer according to generally accepted methods. The authors have studied the features of neurohumoral regulation (the main mediator of the stress-implementing system — cortisol) in medical workers. We have carried out a total of 1728 measurements of psychophysiological indicators. The scientists carried out statistical data processing of the received data using statistical programs Statistika 10, Microsoft Excel 2010. Results. The researchers found that indicators of the functional state of the cardiovascular system, reflecting the degree of adaptation of the body of medical workers to industrial activity, can be used to determine physiologically justified work periods in a pandemic, further accumulation of scientific data and risk assessment of medical workers. After four months of work in medical organizations with COVID-19, the formation of an unfavorable functional state in medical personnel is reflected in changes in ECG and systemic blood pressure, increased detrenability of the cardiovascular system, the predominance of sympathetic influences. Limitations. There are quantitative restrictions due to the number of medical staff of the hospital with COVID-19. Conclusion. Pronounced loads on the visual analyzer when watching video terminal screens against the background of nervous and emotional labor tension are the leading professional factors and determine the formation of the functional state of overwork (third degree) in the medical staff of the hospital with COVID-19. Ethics. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health (Protocol No. 4 of 04/14/2021).