Relationship between COVID-19 symptoms and length of illness among HCWs in metropolitan New York

Editor's Note

In this retrospective cohort study, researchers from Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, found that healthcare workers (HCWs) with COVID-19 who were not hospitalized, still had prolonged illness.

Of 1,698 HCWs--who were away from work because of COVID-19, who had a positive PCR test within a month of symptom onset, and who were cleared to return to work--illness duration ranged from 7 to 73 days (median 15 days, interquartile range, 10-2).

Multivariate analyses found four symptoms were significantly associated with longer illness and longer lengths of time away from work: shortness of breath, fever, sore throat, and diarrhea. The presence of shortness of breath was associated with illnesses that were 5.64 days longer.

Of symptomatic HCWs, 51.9% had positive PCR tests, and 55.4% had reactive IgG antibody tests. Symptoms that were more likely to be associated with higher odds of a positive PCR or reactive IgG antibody test were anosmia (loss of smell), ageusia (loss of taste), fever, or cough. Sore throat and diarrhea were associated with lower odds.

Among HCWs who had both tests, 92.9% of those who were PCR positive also had reactive IgG antibody tests.

The researchers concluded that COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the healthcare workforce and that their findings support the need for hospitals and occupational health departments to assume that HCWs with symptoms of COVID-19 will be away from work for at least 2 weeks, when scheduling and requesting surge staff.