Introduction:

An occupational disease is a bodily injury, functional disturbance or pathology that is a necessary and direct consequence of exposure to occupational hazards and working conditions and does not result from the normal wear and tear of the body. The incidence of work-related diseases increases with age, being more frequent in females. Musculoskeletal injuries and paralysis, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, are the types of injuries most often recognized as occupational illnesses. Concerning the most predominant sector, the incidence is higher in industry, followed by construction and in the health area. Health professionals, given their exposure to ergonomic, physical, biological and chemical risks, have a high willingness to suffer from work-related illnesses.

Objectives:

Characterize the profile of occupational diseases reported in a portuguese tertiary hospital, assessing their temporal distribution, the most affected professional category, as well as the type of injury and predominant body region.

Methods:

An observational, cross-sectional and analytical study was realized using the analysis of occupational diseases reported in a portuguese tertiary hospital from January 2012 to December 2021, by consulting the Occupational Health Service databases.

Results:

During the period considered, 610 occupational diseases were reported, of which 78.0% were female. The most affected professional category was nurses (40.8%), followed by operational assistants (28.5%). The year with the most notifications was 2021 (53.9%). SARS-CoV-2 infection was the most prevalent, with 431 cases, followed by musculoskeletal injuries, with 153 cases. Epicondylitis and tendinopathies of the shoulder joint were the most frequently notified musculoskeletal diseases with 39.7% and 24.0% of the participations, respectively.

Conclusion:

Musculoskeletal injuries stand out as the most frequently reported type of injury, if we exclude the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is easily explained by exposure to the risks inherent in professions in the health sector. Its diagnosis and recognition are of great importance as they allow identifying problems and generate the need to provide a targeted response based on disease prevention and health promotion, among workers and employers.

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