Health Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Health-Care Workers: A Comparison between Groups Involved and Not Involved in COVID-19 Care

Malin Lohela-Karlsson; Emelie Condén Mellgren

doi:10.3390/healthcare10122540

Health Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Health-Care Workers: A Comparison between Groups Involved and Not Involved in COVID-19 Care

Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Dec 15;10(12):2540. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10122540.

Authors

Malin Lohela-Karlsson^{1

2

3}, Emelie Condén Mellgren²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences-Health Services Research, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 564, SE-751 22 Uppsala, Sweden.
² Centre for Clinical Research, Region Västmanland-Uppsala University, Hospital of Västmanland, SE-721 89 Vasteras, Sweden.
³ Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, University of Gävle, SE-801 76 Gävle, Sweden.

Abstract

Health consequences have been reported among health-care workers (HCWs) exposed to COVID-19. Sweden chose to manage the pandemic with a lower and more equal long-lasting work strain and shorter periods of recovery than in other countries. Few studies have examined the health consequences among HCWs working in such conditions. This study compared the health consequences after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic between HCWs involved in the care of COVID-19 patients and other HCWs and between occupational groups working in COVID-19 care. Multinomial logistic regression and univariate general linear models were used to identify differences. The levels of depression, emotional and physical fatigue, sleep quality, and general health were measured 6 months after the onset of the pandemic in 3495 HCW employed in Sweden. HCWs directly involved in COVID-19 care reported significantly poorer sleep quality and higher scores on emotional and physical exhaustion than those not involved in such care. Health consequences did not differ significantly between different occupational groups involved in COVID-19 care except for specialist nurses/midwives. HCWs more frequently involved in COVID-19 care reported higher levels of emotional and physical fatigue and poorer sleep but less severe than those reported in more severely affected countries.

Keywords: COVID-19; health care; health care workers; mental health; occupational health.

Grants and funding

This research was supported by grants from Centre for Clinical Research, Region Västmanland—Uppsala university. The funders had no role in the design or conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis or interpretation of the data; preparation, review or approval of the manuscript; or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.