Healthcare personnel (HCP) in Greece who had been in poor health with COVID-19 and had a minimum of one underlying medical situation missed extra days of labor than those that had influenza or a SARS-CoV-2 an infection however no signs, finds a examine revealed as we speak within the American Journal of An infection Management.
Researchers from the Nationwide Public Well being Group in Athens, Greece, led the multicenter cohort examine of labor absences for COVID-19 or flu amongst 5,871 HCP throughout the 2023-24 respiratory virus season (November to Might).
67% vs 12% of absences on account of COVID, flu
A complete of 759 missed-work episodes had been documented throughout the examine interval (12.9 episodes per 100 HCP). The typical variety of days per episode was 4.5, and the entire quantity was 3,434 days. Of all HCP, 507 (8.6%) had been identified as having COVID-19, 10 (0.2%) had asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections, and 88 (1.5%) had flu.
HCP who had symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 and a number of power situations missed, on common, 1.76 and 0.25 extra workdays than those that had no COVID-19 an infection or underlying sickness, respectively (95% confidence intervals [CIs]1.55 to 1.98 and 0.05 to 0.46 days, respectively).
COVID-19, flu, and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 an infection accounted for 66.8%, 11.6%, and 1.3% of absences, respectively. In whole, COVID-19 and flu had been liable for 76.5% and 9.7% of whole days missed, respectively. Presenteeism, or working whereas in poor health, was recognized in 113 HCP (14.9%).
“COVID-19 stays the main driver of absenteeism amongst HCP,” the examine authors concluded.
Related findings in 2022-23 season
In the identical journal, the identical analysis group posted the same examine of 5,752 hospital-based HCP throughout the 2022-23 respiratory virus season, estimating that these identified as having COVID-19 accounted for 4,245 days missed, in contrast with 333 on account of flu. In whole, 734 COVID-19 instances and 93 flu instances had been documented.
The typical absence per COVID-19 case was 5.8 days lengthy, in contrast with 3.6 days for flu. HCP with COVID-19 had a median of 1.91 extra days absent (95% CI, 1.67 to 2.15) than these with flu.
HCP must be up-to-date with COVID-19 booster vaccinations and annual influenza vaccination.
“As SARS-CoV-2 turns into endemic, COVID-19 stays the prevalent explanation for morbidity and absenteeism amongst HCP, accounting for significantly extra workdays missed in contrast with influenza,” the authors wrote. “HCP must be up-to-date with COVID-19 booster vaccinations and annual influenza vaccination with the intention to defend them in addition to well being care programs from HCP absenteeism.”
