Clinical Manifestations of COVID-19 in Employees of Medical Organizations in the Early and Late Recovery Periods and Issues of Their Rehabilitation

BACKGROUND: Medical workers are one of the groups at high risk of contracting a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), which requires in-depth study of this professional group. AIM: To determine the main directions for the rehabilitation of medical workers with past COVID–19 based on the study of residual clinical manifestations in the early and late recovery periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted based on the materials of an online survey of employees of medical organizations in three consecutive stages. At the first and second stages, residual clinical manifestations data of the coronavirus infection in the early (up to 6 months) and late recovery periods (6-15 months) were analyzed. At the third stage of the study, the characteristics of affective disorders of COVID-19 convalescents in comparison with employees intact for COVID-19, were given. RESULT: During the first 6 months after the disease, asthenovegetative manifestations persisted in the form of general weakness and increased fatigue, unproductive cough, shortness of breath, anosmia, disorders of a number of cognitive functions. In the late recovery period (from 6 to 15 months), the majority of respondents noted increased fatigue, impaired memory and concentration. Some of the study participants had a change in the structure of their hair and its loss (alopecia). Some of the employees were first diagnosed with arterial hypertension in the long-term after the disease. It was found that the frequency and severity of affective disorders and asthenic manifestations in COVID-19 convalescents were significantly higher than in the group of employees intact for the disease, which is a direct indication for inclusion of the diagnosis of affective disorders and the provision of specialized psychological assistance in the rehabilitation programs of COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: During the study, data were obtained on the negative consequences of a coronavirus infection for the health of medical workers, which should be used in the development of rehabilitation programs for employees in the early and late recovery periods.