Occupational Diseases of Healthcare Workers In The Russian Arctic (2007-2020)

Abstract

Introduction. Health care workers are exposed to a complex of harmful production factors that pose an increased risk of developing occupational diseases. The aim of the study was to assess changes in risks, structure and prevalence of occupational pathology in the healthcare workers in the Russian Arctic. Materials and methods. We analyzed the results of social and hygienic monitoring "Working conditions and occupational morbidity of the population" in the Russian Arctic in 2007-2021. Results. In 2007–2021 healthcare workers were first diagnosed with 96 occupational diseases, which corresponded to 0.93% of their total number in the Russian Arctic. Biological (infectious) factors prevailed among harmful production factors that caused occupational diseases: 66 (68.8%) cases. Harmful chemicals (allergenic and toxic) were of lesser etiological significance (16.7%). Infectious diseases dominated in the structure of occupational pathology: tuberculosis (n = 31), COVID-19 (n = 31), chronic viral hepatitis (n = 4). The annual number of diseases ranged from 0 to 21 cases and the incidence ranged from 0 to 5.50 cases/10,000 workers. In the last 2 years, its level has increased due to a new coronavirus infection. At the same time, the risk of tuberculosis at the beginning (2007-2011) of the study period was higher than at its end (2017-2021): relative risk 3.00; confidence interval 1.28-7.05; p=0.008. An increased risk of developing respiratory tuberculosis for 15 years remains in junior medical workers with low work experience, and diseases caused by harmful chemicals were most prevalent in nurses. Conclusion. Despite the emergency situation with a new coronavirus infection, it is necessary to continue improving the methods of preventing the “old” occupational pathology, primarily tuberculosis in junior medical workers and allergic diseases in nursing staff. Keywords: healthcare workers, working conditions, COVID-19, occupational pathology, Russian Arctic Compliance with ethical standards. This work was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The protocol and design of the study were discussed and approved by the local committee of the North-Western Scientific Center for Hygiene and Public Health of Rospotrebnadzor dated 12.05.2021, Protocol No. 35.4. Since depersonalized archival materials were used, there was no need to obtain informed voluntary consent from examined individuals. Funding: the study had no funding. Conflict of interests: the author declares no conflict of interests.

Keywords

• healthcare workers
• working conditions
• covid-19
• occupational pathology
• russian arctic