PULMONARY FUNCTIONS AND IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSE AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS RECOVERED FROM COVID-19 INFECTION COMPARED TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS WITHOUT PREVIOUS INFECTION | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine | ||
| Article 6, Volume 47, Issue 1, January 2023, Pages 79-95 PDF (726.02 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejom.2022.134720.1273 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Shaker DA1; Zaky RA1; Salem ST2; Mourad BH3 | ||
| 1Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. | ||
| 2Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. | ||
| 3Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Introduction: COVID-19 infection is the most critical ongoing global health problem with more outstanding effects on health care workers (HCWs) as they are the first line of defense against any disease outbreak. Aim of Work: To assess the ventilatory pulmonary functions and the immunological response by detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific immunoglobulins (IgM and IgG) among HCWs recovered from COVID-19 infection and compare the results with those of their counterparts with no previous infection. Materials and Methods: The exposed group involved 60 previously infected COVID-19 HCWs confirmed by positive Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests from March till June 2020. A matched control group was selected to involve 60 PCR-negative HCWs from the same clinical departments and during the same period. Ventilatory pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were carried out together with the detection of specific serum IgM and IgG antibodies. Results: All clinical manifestations of COVID-19 infection were significantly prevalent among previously infected HCWs compared to their controls with a significant continuation of dyspnea and fatigue 3 months after infection. Restrictive and obstructive patterns were significantly observed among previously infected HCWs. IgM and IgG were detected in previously infected HCWs 3 months after infection with a significant prevalence of IgG. The study also showed statistically significant negative correlations between all parameters of ventilatory PFTs and PCR conversion duration. Conclusion: Previously infected HCWs with COVID-19 are at higher risk to develop complications in the form of continuation of some clinical manifestations (as dyspnea and fatigue) and ventilatory impairment mainly; in the form of restrictive patterns. Serum IgG antibodies could also persist for several months after COVID-19 infection reflecting the development of humoral immunity against the novel virus. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| COVID-19 infection; Health care workers; Ventilatory pulmonary function, tests and Immunological response | ||
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