Stress and immunological profile in professionals

Abstract

Stress was described by H.Seyle in 1936 as a non-specific response when faced with multiple stimuli.Stress at work has been identified as a universal health and well-being concern.Job stress has risen substantially in recent years as an outcome of globalization and the global economic downturn, which have impacted literally all countries, professions, and employee categories. It is characterized as a negative reaction caused by overwhelming workplace requirements and demands. Overstress and strain at work cause mood fluctuations, which lead to despair, anxiety, and hostility. The most common signs of job stress are exhaustion and lack of energy. Healthcare settings have been recognized as one of the most important fields concerning occupational stress. The levels of job stress among healthcare workers differ according to gender, marital status, specialty, and employment position. Multiple research investigations have shown that workplace stress is a known concern for those working in healthcare settings.Job stress has been examined all over the world, but few studies have found a relationship between job stress and immunological biomarkers. AIM and OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to assess the job stress and immunological profile of Healthcare Professionals in and around Coimbatore. The objectives are1.To screen Doctors and Nurses by a questionnaire that includes Demographic details and work-related characteristics such as job title, work shift, and job continuity.2.To Score the stress levels of Doctors and Nurses.3.To study the different immunological and inflammatory biomarkers in doctors and nurses.4.To compare the different stress levels and the biomarkers in Healthcare Professionals. MATERIALS and METHODS: The institutional human ethical committee approved this study.Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, healthcare professionals, primarily doctors (100) and nurses (55), were chosen for the study.A questionnaire was used to assess the stress levels of healthcare personnel. Basic socio-demographic information and occupational information were requested.Blood samples were drawn and serum was separated in order to identify immunological and inflammatory indicators. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the immunological biomarkers CD3+ cells, CD4+ cells,CD8+ cells,CD4%, CD8%, and CD4:CD8 ratio, while ELISA was used to analyze the inflammatory biomarkers Interleukin-1, Interleukin-2, Interleukin-6, Tumor necrosis factor -, and Interferon. SPSS version 22, IBM, USA, was used to run the statistical test. RESULTS: Stress levels were classified as low, moderate, or high based on questionnaire responses. On intergroup comparisons with different stress levels, the blood biomarkers CD4%,CD8%,IL-6, and TNF- reveal substantial alterations. CONCLUSION: Immunological and inflammatory indicators are important in healthcare professionals who are under stress. Future research in different occupations and with different individuals may help to prove that CD4% and CD8% are stress biomarkers. newline