COVID-19 Pandemic's Effects on Occupational Health and Perceived Work Ability of a Large Group of Italian Banking Employees.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic compelled changes to the structure and organization of many occupational sectors that may impact workers' well-being and work-related symptoms.

Objective: Evaluate the effects of working modifications related to the COVID-19 pandemic on occupational health outcomes and work ability (WA) among a large group of Italian banking employees.

Methods: 2,859 employees visited during health surveillance in 2021 were divided into two job groups: front-office (FO) and back-office workers (BO).

The Total Worker Health® (TWH) approach: a systematic review of its application in different occupational settings.

Background: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in 2011, developed the "Total Worker Health®" (TWH) as a holistic approach to protect and promote the workers' safety, health, and well-being. After over ten years from the TWH development, the aim of the present systematic review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the worldwide TWH initiatives.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus and ISI Web of Science were searched for TWH studies published up to the 31 of July 2023, and 43 investigations could be included.

Mental Disorders Among Healthcare Students Attending a Large University Hospital in Milan, Italy.

Background: The high incidence rates, treatment difficulties, and tendency to become chronic, which subsequently affects personal and occupational functioning, make mental health disorders among the most important public health concerns. In this context, healthcare university students (HS) appear to be more vulnerable to psychological distress than others.

Objective: Investigate the prevalence of diagnosed mental illness among different groups of HS to detect students who may be psychologically vulnerable and determine whether the implementation of support interventions is necessary.

The Effectiveness of the Third Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine: When Should It Be Performed?

Background: COVID-19 vaccination is the most significant step toward the long-term mitigation of SARS-CoV-2-related complication, avoiding disease and death and decreasing virus spread. This study aimed to evaluate, in a real-world setting, booster dose effectiveness to reduce COVID-19 risk considering the amount of time after the end of the two-dose vaccination cycle. A sub-analysis was conducted to adjust the booster dose effect for occupational and demographic factors.

Early-phase pandemic in Italy: Covid-19 spread determinant factors.

Although the Covid-19 pandemic is still ongoing, the environmental factors beyond virus transmission are only partially known. This statistical study has the aim to identify the key factors that have affected the virus spread during the early phase of pandemic in Italy, among a wide set of potential determinants concerning demographics, environmental pollution and climate. Because of its heterogeneity in pollution levels and climate conditions, Italy provides an ideal scenario for an ecological study.

Long-term COVID symptoms, work ability and fitness to work in healthcare workers hospitalized for Sars-CoV-2 infection.

Background: COVID-19 can affect the persistence of symptoms and work ability (WA), hence the fitness to work of healthcare workers (HCW). We describe the effects of COVID-19 in hospitalized HCWs of a large Hospital in Lombardy and their implications on WA and fitness to work.

Methods: Fifty-six HCWs of Fatebenefratelli-Sacco Hospital have been hospitalized for COVID-19 since March 2020.

COVID-19 impact and vaccine effectiveness among healthcare workers of a large University Hospital in Lombardy, Italy.

Background: Healthcare Workers (HCWs) are a key element in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are also at high risk of infection.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe, in a large university hospital which provided healthcare services to patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the course of the epidemic among HCWs and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease.

Methods: Our case series included all "Fatebenefratelli Sacco" University Hospital workers.

Health, work performance, and risk of infection in office-like environments: The role of indoor temperature, air humidity, and ventilation.

Epidemiological and experimental studies have revealed the effects of the room temperature, indoor air humidity, and ventilation on human health, work and cognitive performance, and risk of infection. In this overview, we integrate the influence of these important microclimatic parameters and assess their influence in offices based on literature searches. The dose-effect curves of the temperature describe a concave shape.

Association of subjective health symptoms with indoor air quality in European office buildings: The OFFICAIR project.

The aim of this study was to explore the association between the building-related occupants' reported health symptoms and the indoor pollutant concentrations in a sample of 148 office rooms, within the framework of the European OFFICAIR research project. A large field campaign was performed in 37 office buildings among eight countries, which included (a) 5-day air sampling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), aldehydes, ozone, and NO (b) collection of information from 1299 participants regarding their personal characteristics and health perception at workplace using online questionnaires. Stepwise and multilevel logistic regressions were applied to investigate associations between health symptoms and pollutant concentrations considering personal characteristics as confounders.

Indoor gaseous air pollutants determinants in office buildings-The OFFICAIR project.

The aim of this study was to identify determinants of aldehyde and volatile organic compound (VOC) indoor air concentrations in a sample of more than 140 office rooms, in the framework of the European OFFICAIR research project. A large field campaign was performed, which included (a) the air sampling of aldehydes and VOCs in 37 newly built or recently retrofitted office buildings across 8 European countries in summer and winter and (b) the collection of information on building and offices' characteristics using checklists. Linear mixed models for repeated measurements were applied to identify the main factors affecting the measured concentrations of selected indoor air pollutants (IAPs).

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and fall risk in older people: Sex differences in the Pro.V.A. longitudinal study.

Background: The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) on fall risk in older age is still unclear, as is the effect of sex on any relationship between the two. Our aim was to evaluate the association between DHEA-S and the risk of falls and risk of recurrent falls in community-dwelling older men and women.

Methods: We included 1949 (781 M, 1168 F) older adults enrolled in the Progetto Veneto Anziani study.

On the Development of Health-Based Ventilation Guidelines: Principles and Framework.

This paper summarizes the results of HealthVent project. It had an aim to develop health-based ventilation guidelines and through this process contribute to advance indoor air quality (IAQ) policies and guidelines. A framework that allows determining ventilation requirements in public and residential buildings based on the health requirements is proposed.

Prognostic value of cardiac troponin I assay in hospitalized elderly patients.

Background: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) has been poorly studied in elderly inpatients.

Aim: This study wanted to assess factors influencing the increase in cTnI and its prognostic value in hospitalized elderly patients.

Methods: 354 elderly (mean age of 84.

Assessment of Indoor Air Quality Problems in Office-Like Environments: Role of Occupational Health Services.

There is an increasing concern about indoor air quality (IAQ) and its impact on health, comfort, and work-performance in office-like environments and their workers, which account for most of the labor force. The Scientific Committee on Indoor Air Quality and Health of the ICOH (Int. Comm.

Difficulties with Fine Motor Skills and Cognitive Impairment in an Elderly Population: The Progetto Veneto Anziani.

Objectives: To investigate dysfunction in fine motor skills in a cohort of older Italian adults, identifying their prevalence and usefulness as indicators and predictors of cognitive impairment.

Design: Population-based longitudinal study with mean follow-up of 4.4 years.

Acute particulate matter affects cardiovascular autonomic modulation and IFN-γ methylation in healthy volunteers.

Aims: Air particulate matter (PM) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Altered autonomic functions play a key role in PM-induced cardiovascular disease. However, previous studies have not address the impact of PM on sympathetic and parasympathetic control of heart function, independently, and using controlled conditions, i.

Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament Examination for Predicting Physical Performance and the Risk of Falls in Older People: Results of the Pro.V.A. Longitudinal Study.

Objective: To investigate whether the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament examination (SWME) was associated with, and could predict, measures of physical performance and the risk of fall in older people.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Community.

[Delphi consensus on the monitoring tools of main individual risk factors for chronic diseases by the company doctor].

Background: Data on individual risk factors for chronic diseases (smoking, physical activity, body mass) are collected by company physicians in heterogeneous ways. This makes comparisons, researches and evaluations difficult.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to find a consensus on evaluation tools for chronic diseases risk factors and for health promotion programs in workplaces that could be performed by company physicians during their clinical activity.

Assessment of indoor air quality in office buildings across Europe - The OFFICAIR study.

The European project OFFICAIR aimed to broaden the existing knowledge regarding indoor air quality (IAQ) in modern office buildings, i.e., recently built or refurbished buildings.

Particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon sources and determinants in residential homes.

Human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor environments can be particularly relevant because people spend most of their time inside buildings, especially in homes. This study aimed to investigate the most important particle-bound PAH sources and exposure determinants in PM samples collected in 19 homes located in northern Italy. Complementary information about ion content in PM was also collected in 12 of these homes.

Perceived Indoor Environment and Occupants' Comfort in European "Modern" Office Buildings: The OFFICAIR Study.

Indoor environmental conditions (thermal, noise, light, and indoor air quality) may affect workers' comfort, and consequently their health and well-being, as well as their productivity. This study aimed to assess the relations between perceived indoor environment and occupants' comfort, and to examine the modifying effects of both personal and building characteristics. Within the framework of the European project OFFICAIR, a questionnaire survey was administered to 7441 workers in 167 "modern" office buildings in eight European countries (Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain).

Reducing burden of disease from residential indoor air exposures in Europe (HEALTHVENT project).

Background: The annual burden of disease caused indoor air pollution, including polluted outdoor air used to ventilate indoor spaces, is estimated to correspond to a loss of over 2 million healthy life years in the European Union (EU). Based on measurements of the European Environment Agency (EEA), approximately 90 % of EU citizens live in areas where the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for air quality of particulate matter sized < 2.5 mm (PM2.