Association between occupational stress, markers of inflammation, and oxidative stress in intensive care unit workers: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Health care workers in intensive care units have a high propensity to develop burnout syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between occupational stress and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in health care workers in intensive care units.

Methods: The sample consisted of 133 intensivists from the city of Colatina, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The Maslach Inventory Burnout Survey was used to assess burnout syndrome. Oxidative stress was measured in proteins and lipids, and cytokine levels were assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: The highest levels of burnout syndrome (emotional exhaustion dimension) were found in nurses and physical therapists and showed greater changes in markers of protein damage and inflammation. On the emotional exhaustion dimension, it was higher among professionals who consumed some type of alcoholic beverage and some type of stimulant, whether caffeine, tea, or soft drinks, at least twice a week. There was a positive relationship between the development of burnout syndrome, specifically in the dimension of low personal involvement at work, and oxidative damage in lipids (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances).

Conclusions: There is evidence of relationship between occupational stress and oxidative stress in professionals with low personal involvement in their work.