Mask-associated ‘de novo’ headache in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Source avec lien : Occupational and Environmental Medicine, (Prépublication), 12/30/2020. 10.1136/oemed-2020-106956

La pandémie provoquée par le nouveau coronavirus (COVID-19) a modifié les activités de soins des professionnels de la santé. Nous avons analysé l’association possible entre l’apparition de maux de tête « de novo » selon le type de masque utilisé, les facteurs associés et l’impact de la céphalalgie sur les professionnels de santé. Selon le type de masque utilisé, il y avait des différences dans l’intensité des maux de tête, et l’impact d’un mal de tête chez les sujets qui utilisaient un masque filtrant était pire dans tous les aspects évalués.

Objectives The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed care activities of health professionals. We analysed the possible association between the appearance of ‘de novo’ headache according to the type of mask used, the related factors and the impact of the cephalalgia on health professionals. Methods Cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Extremadura, Spain. We provided an online questionnaire to healthcare workers during the period of maximum incidence of COVID-19 in our setting. Results The subjects are n=306, 244 women (79.7%), with an average age of 43 years (range 23–65). Of the total, 129 (42.2%) were physicians, 112 (36.6%) nurses and 65 (21.2%) other health workers. 208 (79.7%) used surgical masks and 53 (20.3%) used filter masks. Of all those surveyed, 158 (51.6%) presented ‘de novo’ headache. The occurrence of a headache was independently associated with the use of a filter mask, OR 2.14 (95% CI 1.07 to 4.32); being a nurse, OR 2.09 (95% CI 1.18 to 3.72) or another health worker, OR 6.94 (95% CI 3.01 to 16.04); or having a history of asthma, OR 0.29 (95% CI 0.09 to 0.89). According to the type of mask used, there were differences in headache intensity, and the impact of a headache in the subjects who used a filter mask was worse in all the aspects evaluated. Conclusion The appearance of ‘de novo’ headache is associated with the use of filter masks and is more frequent in certain healthcare workers, causing a greater occupational, family, personal and social impact.

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