COVID-19 Infection and Mortality Rates within Medical  Specialists and General Practitioners and Its Comparison with the General Population: A Longitudinal Nationwide Study

Abbas  Basiri; Mohammadreza  Zafarghandi; Shabnam  Golshan; Babak  Eshrati; Ali Fattahi; Amir Hossein  Kashi

doi:10.18502/ijph.v50i7.6632

Abbas Basiri Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammadreza Zafarghandi Islamic Republic of Iran Medical Council, Tehran, Iran
Shabnam Golshan Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Babak Eshrati Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ali Fattahi Islamic Republic of Iran Medical Council, Tehran, Iran
Amir Hossein Kashi Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v50i7.6632

Keywords: COVID-19; Specialty; Medical personnel; Mortality; Incidence

Abstract

Background: We aimed to provide data regarding COVID-19 infection and mortality rates within different specialties of physicians and general medical practitioners in a longitudinal nationwide study and to compare the results with general population.

Methods: Data on COVID-19 infection and mortality of medical physicians in Iran was actively gathered through the Iranian Medical Council (IRIMC). Population COVID-19 cumulative incidence and mortality data were extracted from WHO situation analysis reports and data on Iranian population were obtained from the Statistical Center of Iran.

Results: As of Jul 27^th 2020, COVID-19 infection and mortality rates were 0.680% and 0.0396% among 131223 physicians. The highest cumulative infection rates as of 27^th July 2020, were observed in specialists of infectious diseases (3.14%) followed by neurology (2.18%), and internal medicine (2.13%). The highest cumulative mortality rates as of Nov 3^rd 2020 were observed in specialties of forensic medicine (0.314%), anesthesiology (0.277%), urology (0.237%), and infectious diseases (0.20%). Male physicians comprised 95% of cumulative mortality as of Nov 3^rd. The physicians’ COVID-19 mortality in July and November were 49% and 23% higher than the general population respectively.

Conclusion: Infection and mortality rates in Iranian physicians were higher than the general population, however the magnitude of difference was narrowing in longitudinal investigation. Provision of personnel protective equipment should be prioritized to specialists of infectious diseases, forensic medicine, anesthesiology, internal and emergency medicine, and urology.