Background: Scarce information is available on circadian body temperature fluctuation in healthy healthcare workers. Methods: Forehead temperature was measured with an infrared thermometer in 33 ostensibly healthy laboratory professionals (mean age, 43 ± 13 years; 76% females) throughout a regular working shift, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at 1-hour intervals. Results: A significant difference was found at different times of the day by 1-way analysis of variance (F statistics, 13.79; p < 0.001). The lowest mean forehead temperature was 36.2 ± 0.3℃, recorded at 1:00 PM, whilst the highest was 36.7 ± 0.3℃, at 9:00 AM. The mean difference between forehead temperature at acrophase and nadir was 0.5℃ (95% CI, 0.3-0.6℃; p < 0.001). The forehead temperature measured between 9:00-12:00 AM was also significantly higher than that measured between 1:00-3:00 PM (0.3℃; 95% CI, 0.2-0.4℃; p < 0.001). The mean intra-individual variation of forehead temperature was higher but not significantly different in men (1.0 ± 0.2%) compared to women (0.8 ± 0.3%; p = 0.112). Conclusion: Fever screening protocols for purposes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other infectious diseases monitoring should consider normal daily fluctuations in forehead temperature.

Variation of Forehead Temperature during Routine Working Shift in Hospital Laboratory Personnel: Implications for SARS-CoV-2 Screening

Lippi, Giuseppe
;
Leone, Ludovica;Pighi, Laura;Montagnana, Martina
2021-01-01

Abstract

Background: Scarce information is available on circadian body temperature fluctuation in healthy healthcare workers. Methods: Forehead temperature was measured with an infrared thermometer in 33 ostensibly healthy laboratory professionals (mean age, 43 ± 13 years; 76% females) throughout a regular working shift, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at 1-hour intervals. Results: A significant difference was found at different times of the day by 1-way analysis of variance (F statistics, 13.79; p < 0.001). The lowest mean forehead temperature was 36.2 ± 0.3℃, recorded at 1:00 PM, whilst the highest was 36.7 ± 0.3℃, at 9:00 AM. The mean difference between forehead temperature at acrophase and nadir was 0.5℃ (95% CI, 0.3-0.6℃; p < 0.001). The forehead temperature measured between 9:00-12:00 AM was also significantly higher than that measured between 1:00-3:00 PM (0.3℃; 95% CI, 0.2-0.4℃; p < 0.001). The mean intra-individual variation of forehead temperature was higher but not significantly different in men (1.0 ± 0.2%) compared to women (0.8 ± 0.3%; p = 0.112). Conclusion: Fever screening protocols for purposes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other infectious diseases monitoring should consider normal daily fluctuations in forehead temperature.
2021
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Body temperature, Circadian rhythm
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11562/1047944
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