Introduction:

The health sector represents a major challenge regarding occupational health, particularly in terms of preventing and managing occupational diseases. Infectious, dermatological, respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases are the vast majority of occupational diseases in this sector, with the latter group being the most prevalent in hospitals. In addition to the consequences for workers' health, these diseases also have high costs for companies and society in general.

Aims:

Analysis of occupational diseases reported in a Occupational Health Service of a Portuguese tertiary hospital.

Methods:

Retrospective observational study between January 2011 and December 2022. The data was obtained from the Occupational Health Service software.

Results:

Between 2011 and 2022, 203 occupational diseases were notified, and the average age was 47,1 years. The year with the highest number of reports, was 2020, with a total of 71, and it was the year with the highest number of characterized diseases. Of all diseases reported, 83,7% were among female professionals, and they were also more prevalent among women (5,9%). 62,6% corresponded to shift workers. Healthcare assistants accounted for the largest absolute number of notifications (36,9%), but it was diagnostic and therapeutic technicians who had the highest prevalence (9,9%). The most reported and certified diseases were infectious, followed by musculoskeletal, which generated more disability (9,1%).

Discussion and Conclusion:

The number of occupational diseases has increased over the years, with a greater evolution in 2020 due to the SARS-COV-2 pandemic, which meant that infectious diseases prevailed over musculoskeletal ones, which had been the most prevalent until then. The distribution by gender, age and working hours is in line with the distribution of the organization’s population. The highest number of notifications occurred among healthcare assistants, but its prevalence was higher among diagnostic and therapeutic technicians. This may be because the hospital under study includes a rehabilitation center with more technicians, such as physiotherapists, who provide care to more dependent patients. This study provides a better understanding of the reality of occupational diseases in the health sector, thus allowing the development of preventive measures and promoting healthier working environments.

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