Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41602055›Full record

Observational studyFrontiers in public health2025

Respiratory symptom patterns in healthcare workers in Germany: a prospective study during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Isabell Pink, Andrea Stölting, Anne Cossmann, Noemí Calderón Hampel, Luis Manthey, Marie Mikuteit, Sandra Steffens, Frank Müller, Georg M N Behrens, Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka and 2 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Isabell PinkDepartment of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Andrea StöltingDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Anne CossmannDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Noemí Calderón HampelDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Luis MantheyDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Marie MikuteitDepartment of Dermatology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Sandra SteffensDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Frank MüllerDepartment of General Practice, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Georg M N BehrensDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Alexandra Dopfer-JablonkaDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Dominik SchröderDepartment of General Practice, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Christine HappleGerman Center for Lung Research, DZL-BREATH, Hannover, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) faced unique exposure risks during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This study investigated the prevalence and patterns of respiratory symptoms among HCPs, examining potential demographic, occupational, and vaccination-related risk factors during the early pandemic period. Methods: In this prospective observational study, 1,300 HCPs at a German academic medical center completed surveys about respiratory symptoms between March 2020 and April 2024. Participants reported five specific respiratory symptoms (cough, fever, dyspnea, sore throat, and impairment of taste/smell) and rated their intensity. These symptoms were grouped into one variable Results: Episodes of ARS demonstrated seasonality patterns similar to German national surveillance data. Female HCPs reported significantly more frequent and more severe rhinitis and sore throat symptoms, as well as more severe taste and smell impairment than male HCPs ( Conclusion: Our findings provide insights into respiratory symptom patterns during critical periods of a global pandemic and identify associations that merit further investigation. The protective association of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with reduced respiratory symptom frequency, combined with seasonal patterns mirroring national trends, may inform occupational health strategies during future respiratory disease outbreaks.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health PersonnelAdultFemaleGermanyHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceProspective StudiesRisk FactorsSARS-CoV-2Surveys and QuestionnairesCOVID-19healthcare workersoccupational risk factorsrespiratory symptomsSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID41602055
PMCPMC12833979

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.