Prevalence of headaches in healthcare workers while using personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

ObjectivesDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a serious risk of contracting this virus. Therefore, they should use personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves. Long-term use of these devices has led to many side effects, including headaches. This study investigated the prevalence of headaches related to using PPE in HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesEmbase, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched from December 2019 to February 2023.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesAll cross-sectional studies that investigated the prevalence of headache complications caused by PPE were included.Data extraction and synthesisTwo researchers reviewed the articles separately and independently. The Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies was used to address study design quality and the risk of bias in cross-sectional studies. The heterogeneity of the studies was checked with the I2statistic, and due to the high heterogeneity, the random effects model was used for synthesis. Data were analysed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software V.3.3.70.ResultsOut of 3218 articles retrieved for all side effects, 40 were eligible for this meta-analysis. The prevalence of headaches related to the use of PPE in these 40 studies, with a sample size of 19 229 people, was 43.8% (95% CI 43.1% to 44.6%, I2=98.6%, p<0.001). Based on the meta-regression results, no significant relationship was observed between the prevalence of headaches and variables such as year of publication, study location, sample size and quality of studies.ConclusionHeadache is one of the common side effects of PPE, which can interfere with HCWs’ performance. It is suggested that manufacturers improve the quality of their equipment while healthcare managers should equip and train staff adequately to minimise side effects, ensuring health and enhanced service delivery.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021264874.