A Propensity Score Matched Analysis of Covid-19 Ongoing Symptoms in Primary Medical Staff Members with Different Levels of Stress in China

Abstract

Objective: The variety of ongoing symptoms originated from COVID-19 infections are affecting a broad population of patients by posing a threat to their health. With the recent changes of COVID-19 control measures in China, medical staff members are currently experiencing a high level of stress. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 and to explore any potential associations between the stress and the resulting ongoing symptoms. Methods: From January 17th to February 2nd, 2023, a survey was conducted among the primary medical staff members in Jiangsu Province using a self-designed questionnaire. Results: 14.83% (3,785/25,516) of the primary medical staff members infected with ongoing symptomatic COVID-19. The most ordinary ongoing symptoms include cough (9.51%), dyspnea (9.51%), sleep problems (4.40%), anxiety (2.29%), and reproductive system symptoms (1.89%). In the matched patients, the higher stress well aligned with the greater risk of ongoing symptoms and multiple ongoing symptoms (OR > 1). Conclusion: To mitigate the possibility of developing ongoing symptoms, it is incumbent upon healthcare organizations and local authority’s agencies to institute helpful measures such as medical staff augmentation and enabling all staff to have a reasonable work-life balance.

Note:
Funding Information: This study was funded by project supported by Naniing health and Health Commission, (ZKX22019).

Declaration of Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author. And the authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Ethics Approval Statement: This research was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Reference number: JSJK2023-B010-01). Informed consent was obtained from all participants in this study. Participants were made aware of the purpose and procedures of the study, and their freedom to withdraw from the study at any time without negative consequences.

Keywords: ongoing symptom, stress, ongoing symptomatic COVID-19, medical staff, China