Assessing the burden of COVID-19 amongst healthcare workers in Mexico City: A data-driven call to action

Abstract

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDHealth-care workers (HCWs) could be at increased occupational risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection due to increased exposure. Information regarding the burden of COVID-19 epidemic in HCWs living in Mexico is scarce. Here, we aimed to explore the epidemiology, symptoms, and risk factors associated with adverse outcomes in HCWs in Mexico City.METHODSWe explored data collected by the National Epidemiological Surveillance System in Mexico City, in HCWs who underwent real-time RT-PCR test. We explored COVID-19 outcomes in HCWs and the performance of symptoms to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection.RESULTSAs of September 20th, 2020, 57,758 HCWs were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and 17,531 were confirmed (30.35%); 6,610 were nurses (37.70%), 4,910 physicians (28.0%), 267 dentists (1.52%) and 5,744 laboratory personnel and other HCWs (32.76%). Overall, 2,378 HCWs required hospitalization (4.12%), 2,648 developed severe COVID-19 (4.58%), and 336 required mechanical-ventilatory support (0.58%). Lethality was recorded in 472 (0.82%) cases. We identified 635 asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections (3.62%). Compared with general population, HCWs had higher incidence, testing, asymptomatic and mortality rates. No individual symptom offers adequate performance to detect SARS-CoV2. Older HCWs with chronic non-communicable diseases and severe respiratory symptoms were associated with higher risk for adverse outcome; physicians were at higher risk compared with nurses and other HCWs.CONCLUSIONSWe report a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs in Mexico City. Symptoms as a screening method is not efficient to discern those HCWs with a positive PCR-RT test. Particular attention should focus on HCWs with risk factors to prevent adverse outcomes.