Hospitalization, death, and probable reinfection in Peruvian healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2: a national retrospective cohort study

Abstract

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVETo determine if occupation is a risk factor for probable reinfection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 in Peruvian healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2.MATERIAL AND METHODSRetrospective cohort study. Healthcare workers who presented SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 1, 2020 and August 9, 2021 were included. Occupational cohorts were reconstructed from the following sources of information: the National Epidemiological Surveillance System, molecular tests (NETLAB), results of serology and antigen tests (SICOVID-19), National Registry of Health Personnel (INFORHUS) and National Information System of Deaths (SINADEF). The incidence of probable reinfection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 was obtained in the cohorts of health auxiliaries and technicians, nursing staff, obstetricians, physicians, and other healthcare workers. We evaluated whether occupation was a risk factor for probable reinfection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 using a log-binomial generalized linear model, obtaining the adjusted relative risk (RR AJ).RESULTS90,672 healthcare workers were included. 8.1% required hospitalization, 1.7% died from COVID-19, and 2.0% had probable reinfection. A similar incidence of probable reinfection was found in the 5 cohorts (1.9%-2.2%). Physicians had a higher incidence of hospitalization (13.2%) and death (2.6%); however, they were also those who presented greater susceptibility linked to non-occupational variables such as age and comorbidities. The multivariate analysis found that physicians (RR=1.691; CI 95: 1.556–1.837) had a higher risk of hospitalization and that the occupation of health technician and assistant was the only one that constituted a risk factor for mortality from COVID-19 (RR =1.240; 95% CI: 1.052–1.463).CONCLUSIONSPeruvian health technicians and auxiliaries have a higher risk of death from COVID-19 linked to their occupation, while doctors have higher mortality due to non-occupational factors. Physicians had a higher risk of hospitalization independent of the presence of comorbidities and age; likewise, all occupations had a similar risk of probable reinfection.