Persistent post-covid symptoms in healthcare workers , 2021, Gaber et al

[Andy]

Abstract
Background
Recent reports suggest a higher incidence of COVID-19 infections among healthcare workers (HCW). However, information about the long-term complications affecting this population is lacking.

Aims
Investigation of long-term impact of COVID-19 in HCW.

Methods
Seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was evaluated for the majority of HCW in an English teaching hospital 2 months following the peak of COVID-19 first wave. A questionnaire investigating the long-term complications was sent through global e-mail to HCW 4 months following the peak of the wave enquiring about the persistent health issues still affecting them at that point.

Results
Out of 3759 subjects tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, 932 were positive (24%). Forty-five per cent of 138 HCW responding to the questionnaire reported persistent symptoms with 32% struggling to cope 3–4 months following the peak of the wave. Moderate-to-severe fatigue stood out as the most disabling symptom (39%) but mild-to-moderate shortness of breath, anxiety and sleep disturbance were almost universal in the subjects still struggling with symptoms. Only 16% consulted their general practitioner (GP) about their symptoms with only 2% taking sick leave after recovering from the acute illness.

Conclusions
Our data suggest that about a third of HCW who responded to the survey were still struggling to cope with the symptoms of what is now known as long covid several months after the acute COVID-19 infections. The overwhelming majority of this group seem to be reluctant to neither seek medical advice nor take sick leave.

Open access, https://academic.oup.com/occmed/advance-article/doi/10.1093/occmed/kqab043/6217385

 

[Wyva]

The name Gaber sounded familiar and indeed, here he is: https://www.s4me.info/threads/revie...ement-of-post‐covid-fatigue-2021-gaber.19130/

In this piece he was supportive of BPS and CBT. In the one posted by Andy he mentions the possibility of developing maladaptive coping strategies, as a potential result of people with long covid not seeking medical advice.

 

[rvallee]

The overwhelming majority of this group seem to be reluctant to neither seek medical advice nor take sick leave.

What part of the stigma against chronic illness plays into that? Knowing that you may end up being ostracized, possibly have professional repercussions if it's assumed to be mental illness is a very strong motivator to avoid medical care.

 

[rvallee]

he mentions the possibility of developing maladaptive coping strategies, as a potential result of people with long covid not seeking medical advice

Applying the old Uno reverse card, uh? Usually the trope is that maladaptive coping leads to people seeking too much medical care. Or whatever. Never forget the universal hand-waving of any contradicting detail.

Quite a catch, that catch-22. And seriously literally in the book the catch is literally about the fact that if Yossarian is lucid enough to seek medical care, then clearly he's lucid enough not to need medical care and should be back on duty. I'm thinking Heller may have had some personal experience with that, prompting to choose this as the foundation of the book.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

The overwhelming majority of this group seem to be reluctant to neither seek medical advice nor take sick leave.

Yeah well, if you are a health care worker you probably have other health care workers to advise you and may well have the gump to realise that the GP won't have a clue.


And that sounds more like either than neither

 

[dave30th]

if you are a health care worker you probably have other health care workers to advise you and may well have the gump to realise that the GP won't have a clue.

even so, it's probably easier just to blame the health care workers for that and attribute it to their psychological deficits

 

[Forbin]

Only 16% consulted their general practitioner (GP) about their symptoms with only 2% taking sick leave after recovering from the acute illness.

The overwhelming majority of this group seem to be reluctant to neither seek medical advice nor take sick leave.

Doesn't this contradict the BPS notion that their symptoms are the result of by deconditioning? These people are continuing to work, but they are not getting better. They're also not seeking medical advice, so there goes the idea of "secondary gain" via "attention seeking."

 

[DokaGirl]

Really, as others here have pointed out, pwLC can't win. Seems like no one can win with the BPS Bunch. Whatever one does with illness it's maladaptive. Except of course under their tutelage.