Changes in some hematological parameters in radiology unit workers during the Covid-19 pandemic: Retrospective study

Background: the purpose of this study is to retrospectively compare annual changes (between 2019 and 2022 years) in selected hematological parameters in radiology workers during the covid-19 pandemic. material and methods: a total of sixteen radiology unit workers, seven male and nine female, aged 18-40 years, working in ataturk university faculty of medicine, department of radiology in 2019-2022, were included in this retrospective study. the annual changes (between 2019-2022) of the participants in selected hematological parameters such as white blood cell (wbc), hemoglobin (hgb) and red blood cell (rbc) during the covid-19 pandemic were compared. results: there was a statistically significant difference when comparing the annual changes in wbc value during the covid-19 pandemic (f(3, 36)=3.141, p=.037, ηp2= .207). it was observed that wbc decreased significantly in 2022 compared to 2021 (p<0.05). moreover, a statistically significant difference was found in the comparison of the annual changes in the rbc value during the covid-19 pandemic (f (3, 36)=25.370, p=.000, ηp2= .712). it was found that rbc diminished significantly in 2020, 2021, and 2022 compared to 2019. additionally, a statistically significant difference was detected when comparing the annual changes in hgb value during the covid-19 pandemic (f(3, 36)=26.794, p=.000, ηp2= .691). it was determined that hgb decreased significantly in 2022 compared to 2020 and 2022 compared to 2021 (p<0.05). conclusion: it is known that radiology workers are exposed to more and more prolonged radiation due to the increase in patient density and the length of their working hours during the covid-19 pandemic period. radiation also has harmful acute and chronic effects on human health. in this process, it is seen that exposure to both covid-19 and ionizing radiation (ir) increases the sensitivity of hematological parameters.