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Fitzsimmons K, Hood M, Grattan K, Laing J, Sparer-Fine E. COVID-19 mortality among Massachusetts workers and the association with telework ability, 2020. Am J Ind Med 2024; 67:364-375. [PMID: 38430201 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Working outside the home put some workers at risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure and might partly explain elevated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality rates in the first months of the pandemic in certain groups of Massachusetts workers. To further investigate this premise, we examined COVID-19 mortality among Massachusetts workers, with a specific focus on telework ability based on occupation. METHODS COVID-19-associated deaths between January 1 and December 31, 2020 among Massachusetts residents aged 18-64 years were analyzed. Deaths were categorized into occupation-based quadrants (Q) of telework ability. Age-adjusted rates were calculated by key demographics, industry, occupation, and telework quadrant using American Community Survey workforce estimates as denominators. Rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals comparing rates for quadrants with workers unlikely able to telework (Q2, Q3, Q4) to that among those likely able to telework (Q1) were calculated. RESULTS The overall age-adjusted COVID-19-associated mortality rate was 26.4 deaths per 100,000 workers. Workers who were male, Black non-Hispanic, Hispanic, born outside the US, and with lower than a high school education level experienced the highest rates among their respective demographic groups. The rate varied by industry, occupation and telework quadrant. RRs comparing Q2, Q3, and Q4 to Q1 were 0.99 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.8-1.2), 3.2 (95% CI: 2.6-3.8) and 2.5 (95% CI: 2.0-3.0), respectively. CONCLUSION Findings suggest a positive association between working on-site and COVID-19-associated mortality. Work-related factors likely contributed to COVID-19 among Massachusetts workers and should be considered in future studies of COVID-19 and similar diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Fitzsimmons
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Boston, USA
| | - Malena Hood
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Special Analytic Projects, Office of Population Health, Boston, USA
| | - Kathleen Grattan
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Boston, USA
| | - James Laing
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Boston, USA
| | - Emily Sparer-Fine
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Boston, USA
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Gigot C, Pisanic N, Spicer K, Davis MF, Kruczynski K, Rivera MG, Koehler K, Hall DJ, Hall DJ, Heaney CD. SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence by industry, workplace characteristics, and workplace infection prevention and control measures, North Carolina, 2021 to 2022. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.03.06.24303821. [PMID: 38496588 PMCID: PMC10942491 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.06.24303821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected workers in certain industries and occupations, and the workplace can be a high risk setting for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. In this study, we measured SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence and identified work-related risk factors in a population primarily working at industrial livestock operations. Methods We used a multiplex salivary SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody assay to determine infection-induced antibody prevalence among 236 adult (≥18 years) North Carolina residents between February 2021 and August 2022. We used the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Industry and Occupation Computerized Coding System (NIOCCS) to classify employed participants' industry and compared infection-induced IgG prevalence by participant industry and with the North Carolina general population. We also combined antibody results with reported SARS-CoV-2 molecular test positivity and vaccination history to identify evidence of prior infection. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios of prior infection by potential work-related risk factors, adjusting for industry and date. Results Most participants (55%) were infection-induced IgG positive, including 71% of animal slaughtering and processing industry workers, which is 1.5 to 4.3 times higher compared to the North Carolina general population, as well as higher than molecularly-confirmed cases and the only other serology study we identified of animal slaughtering and processing workers. Considering questionnaire results in addition to antibodies, the proportion of participants with evidence of prior infection increased slightly, to 61%, including 75% of animal slaughtering and processing workers. Participants with more than 1000 compared to 10 or fewer coworkers at their jobsite had higher odds of prior infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0 to 21.0). Conclusions This study contributes evidence of the severe and disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on animal processing and essential workers and workers in large congregate settings. We also demonstrate the utility of combining non-invasive biomarker and questionnaire data for the study of workplace exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn Gigot
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Nora Pisanic
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kristoffer Spicer
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Meghan F. Davis
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Johns Hopkins P.O.E. Total Worker Health(R) Center in Mental Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kate Kruczynski
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Magdielis Gregory Rivera
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kirsten Koehler
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - D. J. Hall
- Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help, Warsaw, North Carolina, USA
| | - Devon J. Hall
- Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help, Warsaw, North Carolina, USA
| | - Christopher D. Heaney
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Community Science and Innovation for Environmental Justice Initiative, Center for a Livable Future, Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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O'Sullivan O, Houston A, Ladlow P, Barker-Davies RM, Chamley R, Bennett AN, Nicol ED, Holdsworth DA. Factors influencing medium- and long-term occupational impact following COVID-19. Occup Med (Lond) 2024; 74:53-62. [PMID: 37101240 DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqad041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Significant numbers of individuals struggle to return to work following acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The UK Military developed an integrated medical and occupational pathway (Defence COVID-19 Recovery Service, DCRS) to ensure safe return to work for those with initially severe disease or persistent COVID-19 sequalae. Medical deployment status (MDS) is used to determine ability to perform job role without restriction ('fully deployable', FD) or with limitations ('medically downgraded', MDG). AIMS To identify which variables differ between those who are FD and MDG 6 months after acute COVID-19. Within the downgraded cohort, a secondary aim is to understand which early factors are associated with persistent downgrading at 12 and 18 months. METHODS Individuals undergoing DCRS had comprehensive clinical assessment. Following this, their electronic medical records were reviewed and MDS extracted at 6, 12 and 18 months. Fifty-seven predictors taken from DCRS were analysed. Associations were sought between initial and prolonged MDG. RESULTS Three hundred and twenty-five participants were screened, with 222 included in the initial analysis. Those who were initially downgraded were more likely to have post-acute shortness of breath (SoB), fatigue and exercise intolerance (objective and subjective), cognitive impairment and report mental health symptoms. The presence of fatigue and SoB, cognitive impairment and mental health symptoms was associated with MDG at 12 months, and the latter two, at 18 months. There were also modest associations between cardiopulmonary function and sustained downgrading. CONCLUSIONS Understanding the factors that are associated with initial and sustained inability to return to work allows individualized, targeted interventions to be utilized.
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Affiliation(s)
- O O'Sullivan
- Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation (ADMR), Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), Stanford Hall, Loughborough LE12 5QW, UK
- Academic Unit of Injury, Recovery and Inflammation Science, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - A Houston
- Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation (ADMR), Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), Stanford Hall, Loughborough LE12 5QW, UK
| | - P Ladlow
- Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation (ADMR), Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), Stanford Hall, Loughborough LE12 5QW, UK
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - R M Barker-Davies
- Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation (ADMR), Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), Stanford Hall, Loughborough LE12 5QW, UK
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
| | - R Chamley
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK
| | - A N Bennett
- Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation (ADMR), Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), Stanford Hall, Loughborough LE12 5QW, UK
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BX, UK
| | - E D Nicol
- Academic Department of Military Medicine, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - D A Holdsworth
- Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK
- Academic Department of Military Medicine, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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Gatov E, Sennik S, Goldfarb A, Gans J, Stein J, Agrawal A, Rosella L. Examining the Relationship Between Workplace Industry and COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-sectional Study of Canada's Largest Rapid Antigen Screening Program. J Occup Environ Med 2024; 66:e68-e76. [PMID: 38151981 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000003028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To control virus spread while keeping the economy open, this study aimed to identify individuals at increased risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace using rapid antigen screening data. METHODS Among adult participants in a large Canadian rapid antigen screening program (January 2021-March 2022), we examined screening, personal, and workplace characteristics and conducted logistic regressions, adjusted for COVID-19 wave, screening frequency and location, role, age group, and geography. RESULTS Among 145,814 participants across 2707 worksites, 6209 screened positive at least once. Workers in natural resources (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1 [1.73-2.55]), utilities (OR = 1.67 [1.38-2.03]), construction (OR = 1.35 [1.06-1.71]), and transportation/warehousing (OR = 1.32 [1.12-1.56]) had increased odds of screening positive; workers in education/health (OR = 0.62 [0.52-0.73]), leisure/hospitality (OR = 0.71 [0.56-0.90]), and finance (OR = 0.84 [0.71-0.99]) had lesser odds of screening positive, compared with professional/business services. CONCLUSIONS Certain industries involving in-person work in close quarters are associated with elevated COVID-19 transmission. Continued reliance on rapid screening in these sectors is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenia Gatov
- From the Creative Destruction Lab, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (E.G., S.S., A.G., J.G., A.A.); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (E.G.); Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (A.G., J.G., A.A.); Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (J.S.); and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (L.R.)
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Syamlal G, Kurth LM, Blackley DJ, Dodd KE, Mazurek JM. Sex Differences in COVID-19 Deaths, by Industry and Occupation, 2021. Am J Prev Med 2024; 66:226-234. [PMID: 37783282 PMCID: PMC10898242 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted workers in certain industries and occupations. The infection risk for SARS-CoV-2 and future respiratory viruses in the workplace is a significant concern for workers, employers, and policymakers. This study describes the differences in COVID-19 mortality by sex and industry/occupation among working-age U.S. residents in 49 states and New York City. METHODS The 2021 National Vital Statistics System public use multiple-cause-of-death data for U.S. decedents aged 15-64 years (working age) with information on usual industry and occupation were analyzed in 2022. Age-standardized COVID-19 death rates for selected demographic characteristics and adjusted proportional mortality ratios were estimated by sex and usual industry and occupation. RESULTS In 2021, 133,596 (14.3%) U.S. decedents aged 15-64 years had COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause of death; the highest COVID-19 death rate was among persons aged 55-64 years (172.4 of 100,000 population) and males (65.5 of 100,000 population). Among males and females, American Indian or Alaskan Native and Black or African American, respectively, had the highest death rates. Hispanic males had higher age-adjusted death rates than Hispanic females. Working-age male decedents in the public administration (proportional mortality ratio=1.39) and management of companies and enterprises industries (proportional mortality ratio=1.39) and community and social services occupations (proportional mortality ratio=1.68) and female decedents in the utilities industry (proportional mortality ratio=1.20) and protective services occupation (proportional mortality ratio=1.18) had the highest proportional mortality ratios. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 death rates and proportional mortality ratios varied by sex, industry, and occupation groups. These findings underscore the importance of workplace public health interventions, which could protect workers and their communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girija Syamlal
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia.
| | - Laura M Kurth
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - David J Blackley
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Katelynn E Dodd
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Jacek M Mazurek
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia
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Modji KKS, McCoy KE, Creswell PD, Morris CR, Tomasallo CD. Long COVID Among Wisconsin Workers in the Workers' Compensation System: Associations With Sociodemographics, Vaccination, and Predominant Variant Period From March 1, 2020 to July 31, 2022. J Occup Environ Med 2024; 66:e34-e41. [PMID: 38013390 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000003018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This analysis aimed to determine the likelihood of developing long COVID among Wisconsin workers while adjusting for sociodemographics, COVID-19 vaccination, industry, and occupation. METHODS This retrospective analysis determined the odds ratios of developing long COVID among Wisconsin workers who were compensated for COVID-19 lost time during March 1, 2020 to July 31, 2022. RESULTS A total of 234 workers (11.7%) were determined to have long COVID. Factors associated with long COVID were age ≥40 years, non-White race, infection occurrence during the initial and Omicron variant dominant periods, and the absence of COVID-19 vaccination. Workers in manufacturing and public administration were more likely to develop long COVID compared with those in health care and social assistance. CONCLUSIONS Long COVID disproportionately affects some worker groups. This calls for more worker protection and preventative care to mitigate its impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komi K S Modji
- From the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Madison, Wisconsin (K.K.S.M., K.E.M., P.D.C. C.R.M., C.D.T.); and School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin (K.K.S.M., K.E.M., P.D.C., C.D.T.)
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Comunale BA, Hsu YJ, Larson RJ, Singh A, Jackson-Ward E, Engineer LD. Vitamin D Supplementation and Prior Oral Poliovirus Vaccination Decrease Odds of COVID-19 Outcomes among Adults Recently Inoculated with Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:121. [PMID: 38400105 PMCID: PMC10892023 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural and functional commonalities between poliovirus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) suggest that poliovirus inoculation may induce antibodies that mitigate the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). No known studies have evaluated COVID-19 risk factors in adults recently vaccinated against poliovirus. STUDY OBJECTIVE Among adults with no history of COVID-19 infection or vaccination, who recently received an inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), we sought to determine which biological factors and social determinants of health (SDOH) may be associated with (1) testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, (2) experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, and (3) a longer duration of COVID-19 symptoms. METHODS The influence of biological factors and SDOH on SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 symptoms were evaluated among 282 adults recently inoculated with IPV. Participant-reported surveys were analyzed over 12 months post-enrollment. Bivariate and multivariate linear and logistic regression models identified associations between variables and COVID-19 outcomes. RESULTS Adjusting for COVID-19 vaccinations, variants, and other SDOH, secondary analyses revealed that underlying conditions, employment, vitamin D, education, and the oral poliovirus vaccination (OPV) were associated with COVID-19 outcomes. The odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and experiencing symptoms were significantly reduced among participants who took vitamin D (OR 0.12 and OR 0.09, respectively). Unemployed or part-time working participants were 72% less likely to test positive compared with full-time workers. No prior dose of OPV was one of the strongest predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 4.36) and COVID-19 symptoms (OR 6.95). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that prophylactic measures and mucosal immunity may mitigate the risk and severity of COVID-19 outcomes. Larger-scale studies may inform future policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany A. Comunale
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yea-Jen Hsu
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Robin J. Larson
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Aditi Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92161, USA
| | - Erin Jackson-Ward
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Lilly D. Engineer
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Huang W, Gao CX, Luo D, Wang Y, Zheng X, Liu C, Wang Y, Li Y, Qian H. Risk evaluation of venue types and human behaviors of COVID-19 outbreaks in public indoor environments: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 341:122970. [PMID: 37979645 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Despite increasing vaccination rates, the incidence of breakthrough infections with COVID-19 has increased due to the continued emergence of new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Therefore, Non-pharmaceutical interventions remain the most effective measures for coping with the ever-changing pandemic. The lifting of compulsory interventions has made individuals primary responsibility for their own health, which highlights the importance of increasing awareness of the infection risk from the environment in which they live and their individual behaviors. We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Scopus on April 17, 2023, for all studies reporting COVID-19 outbreaks in public indoor venues. The study outcome was the attack rate. A total of 42 studies, which included cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, and case studies, reporting data on 1951 confirmed cases in 64 COVID-19 outbreaks satisfied the meta-analysis and were included in the review. A random-effect model was used in the meta-analysis, and subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate factors affecting attack rates. We found a strong level of evidence (p < 0.01) supporting a higher pooled attack rate in recreation-related venues (0.44, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.60) than in work-related venues (0.21, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.27). Compared to those outbreaks without that, outbreaks with high-intensity exercise, vocalization, contact behavior, or close body proximity had a higher attack rate of 0.51, 0.55, 0.33, and 0.39, respectively. Further studies suggest that different attack rates across different types of settings may be the result of heterogeneity in exposed people's behaviors. There were significant heterogeneities that may limit the interpretation of connections between influencing factors and outbreak outcomes. The identification of key behaviors that may contribute to transmission risk, and their correlation with venue type, has important implications for the development of future public health interventions and individual prevention strategies for respiratory infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Huang
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Caroline X Gao
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Orygen, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Danting Luo
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yong Wang
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaohong Zheng
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Cong Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, China; Department of Infection Management, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuguo Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China; School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hua Qian
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, China.
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Li D, Cao W, Zhou Q, Wu X, Song X, Qin H. COVID-19 and primary wound healing: A new insights and advance. Int Wound J 2023; 20:4422-4428. [PMID: 37488776 PMCID: PMC10681437 DOI: 10.1111/iwj.14324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
With the outbreak and pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a huge number of people died of it. Apart from lung injuries, multiple organs have been confirmed to be impaired. In COVID-19 time, primary wound healing processes always prolong, however, its possible underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Therefore, to overcome this clinical problem, clarifying its underlying mechanisms clearly is necessary and urgently needed. In this review, we summarized that COVID-19 can prolong primary wound healing by inducing excessive inflammation and oxidative stress, disturbing immune system and haematological system, as well as influencing the functions and viability of epidermal stem cells (ESCs). Otherwise, we summarized that the strict control measures of blocking up COVID-19 pandemic can also have side effects on primary wound healing process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyi Li
- Department of OphthalmologyJiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Wenjie Cao
- Department of OphthalmologyJiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Qun Zhou
- Department of OphthalmologyJiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaomin Wu
- Department of OphthalmologyJiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Xiayun Song
- Department of OphthalmologyJiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Haofang Qin
- Department of OphthalmologyJiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghaiChina
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Nys E, Pauwels S, Ádám B, Amaro J, Athanasiou A, Bashkin O, Bric TK, Bulat P, Caglayan C, Guseva Canu I, Cebanu S, Charbotel B, Cirule J, Curti S, Davidovitch N, Dopelt K, Fikfak MD, Frilander H, Gustavsson P, Höper AC, Kiran S, Kogevinas M, Kudász F, Kolstad HA, Lazarevic SB, Macan J, Majery N, Marinaccio A, Mates D, Mattioli S, McElvenny DM, Mediouni Z, Mehlum IS, Merisalu E, Mijakoski D, Nena E, Noone P, Otelea MR, Pelclova D, Pranjic N, Rosso M, Serra C, Rushton L, Sandal A, Schernhammer ES, Stoleski S, Turner MC, van der Molen HF, Varga M, Walusiak-Skorupa J, Straif K, Godderis L. Recognition of COVID-19 with occupational origin: a comparison between European countries. Occup Environ Med 2023; 80:694-701. [PMID: 37984917 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2022-108726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aims to present an overview of the formal recognition of COVID-19 as occupational disease (OD) or injury (OI) across Europe. METHODS A COVID-19 questionnaire was designed by a task group within COST-funded OMEGA-NET and sent to occupational health experts of 37 countries in WHO European region, with a last update in April 2022. RESULTS The questionnaire was filled out by experts from 35 countries. There are large differences between national systems regarding the recognition of OD and OI: 40% of countries have a list system, 57% a mixed system and one country an open system. In most countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as an OD (57%). In four countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as OI (11%) and in seven countries as either OD or OI (20%). In two countries, there is no recognition possible to date. Thirty-two countries (91%) recognise COVID-19 as OD/OI among healthcare workers. Working in certain jobs is considered proof of occupational exposure in 25 countries, contact with a colleague with confirmed infection in 19 countries, and contact with clients with confirmed infection in 21 countries. In most countries (57%), a positive PCR test is considered proof of disease. The three most common compensation benefits for COVID-19 as OI/OD are disability pension, treatment and rehabilitation. Long COVID is included in 26 countries. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 can be recognised as OD or OI in 94% of the European countries completing this survey, across different social security and embedded occupational health systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelien Nys
- External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, IDEWE vzw, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sara Pauwels
- Centre Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Balázs Ádám
- Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE
| | - João Amaro
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Athanasios Athanasiou
- Department of Labour Inspection, Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Osnat Bashkin
- Department of Public Health, Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon, Israel
| | | | - Petar Bulat
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- Serbian Institute of Occupational Health, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Cigdem Caglayan
- Department of Public Health, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Irina Guseva Canu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (unisanté), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Serghei Cebanu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Moldova
| | | | - Jolanta Cirule
- Occupational and Radiation Medicine Center, Paul Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia
| | - Stefania Curti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nadav Davidovitch
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Southern, Israel
| | - Keren Dopelt
- Department of Public Health, Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon, Israel
| | - Metoda Dodic Fikfak
- Institute of Occupational Traffic and Sports Medicine, Ljubljana University Medical Center, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Heikki Frilander
- Occupational Medicine Team, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Per Gustavsson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anje Christina Höper
- Department of Community Medicine, UiT Norges arktiske universitet, Tromso, Norway
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromso, Norway
| | - Sibel Kiran
- School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Koc Universitesi, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Ferenc Kudász
- National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Henrik A Kolstad
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sanja Brekalo Lazarevic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Jelena Macan
- Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nicole Majery
- Service de Santé au travail Multisectoriel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
| | - Alessandro Marinaccio
- Epidemiology Unit, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Rome, Italy
| | - Dana Mates
- National Institute of Public Health, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Stefano Mattioli
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Damien Martin McElvenny
- Insitute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Zakia Mediouni
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (unisanté), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eda Merisalu
- Institute of Forestry and Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Dragan Mijakoski
- Institute of Occupational Health of RNM-Skopje, Skopje, North Macedonia
- Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, University in Skopje, Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - Evangelia Nena
- Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece
| | - Peter Noone
- Occupational Health Department, HSE Dublin North East, Lourdes Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Daniela Pelclova
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Nurka Pranjic
- Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Clinic of Occupational Pathology and Toxicology, University Institute of Primary Health, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Mark Rosso
- Occupational Health and Safety Authority, Pieta, Malta
| | - Consol Serra
- Centre of Research in Occupational Health, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health Network (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lesley Rushton
- Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Abdulsamet Sandal
- Occupational Diseases Clinic, Ankara Occupational and Environmental Diseases Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Eva S Schernhammer
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sasho Stoleski
- Institute of Occupational Health of RNM-Skopje, Skopje, North Macedonia
- Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, University in Skopje, Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - Michelle C Turner
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- Centre of Research in Occupational Health, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health Network (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Henk F van der Molen
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marek Varga
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Medical Faculty of P. J. Šafarik University and University Hospital of Louis Pasteur, Kosice, Slovakia
| | | | - Kurt Straif
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lode Godderis
- External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, IDEWE vzw, Leuven, Belgium
- Centre Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Hoerger M, Kim S, Mossman B, Alonzi S, Xu K, Coward JC, Whalen K, Nauman E, Miller J, De La Cerda T, Peyser T, Dunn A, Zapolin D, Rivera D, Murugesan N, Baker CN. Cultivating community-based participatory research (CBPR) to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic: an illustrative example of partnership and topic prioritization in the food services industry. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1939. [PMID: 37803311 PMCID: PMC10559526 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16787-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As an illustrative example of COVID-19 pandemic community-based participatory research (CBPR), we describe a community-academic partnership to prioritize future research most important to people experiencing high occupational exposure to COVID-19 - food service workers. Food service workers face key challenges surrounding (1) health and safety precautions, (2) stress and mental health, and (3) the long-term pandemic impact. METHOD Using CBPR methodologies, academic scientists partnered with community stakeholders to develop the research aims, methods, and measures, and interpret and disseminate results. We conducted a survey, three focus groups, and a rapid qualitative assessment to understand the three areas of concern and prioritize future research. RESULTS The survey showed that food service employers mainly supported basic droplet protections (soap, hand sanitizer, gloves), rather than comprehensive airborne protections (high-quality masks, air quality monitoring, air cleaning). Food service workers faced challenging decisions surrounding isolation, quarantine, testing, masking, vaccines, and in-home transmission, described anxiety, depression, and substance use as top mental health concerns, and described long-term physical and financial concerns. Focus groups provided qualitative examples of concerns experienced by food service workers and narrowed topic prioritization. The rapid qualitative assessment identified key needs and opportunities, with help reducing in-home COVID-19 transmission identified as a top priority. COVID-19 mitigation scientists offered recommendations for reducing in-home transmission. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic has forced food service workers to experience complex decisions about health and safety, stress and mental health concerns, and longer-term concerns. Challenging health decisions included attempting to avoid an airborne infectious illness when employers were mainly only concerned with droplet precautions and trying to decide protocols for testing and isolation without clear guidance, free tests, or paid sick leave. Key mental health concerns were anxiety, depression, and substance use. Longer-term challenges included Long COVID, lack of mental healthcare access, and financial instability. Food service workers suggest the need for more research aimed at reducing in-home COVID-19 transmission and supporting long-term mental health, physical health, and financial concerns. This research provides an illustrative example of how to cultivate community-based partnerships to respond to immediate and critical issues affecting populations most burdened by public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hoerger
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Freeman School of Business, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, University Medical Center of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Louisiana Cancer Research Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.
| | - Seowoo Kim
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Brenna Mossman
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sarah Alonzi
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Kenneth Xu
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - John C Coward
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Kathleen Whalen
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Nauman
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, USA
| | - Jonice Miller
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Tracey De La Cerda
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Tristen Peyser
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Addison Dunn
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Dana Zapolin
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Dulcé Rivera
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Navya Murugesan
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Courtney N Baker
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Freeman School of Business, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
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Jetha A, Bakhtari H, Rosella LC, Gignac MAM, Biswas A, Shahidi FV, Smith BT, Smith MJ, Mustard C, Khan N, Arrandale VH, Loewen PJ, Zuberi D, Dennerlein JT, Bonaccio S, Wu N, Irvin E, Smith PM. Artificial intelligence and the work-health interface: A research agenda for a technologically transforming world of work. Am J Ind Med 2023; 66:815-830. [PMID: 37525007 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
The labor market is undergoing a rapid artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. There is currently limited empirical scholarship that focuses on how AI adoption affects employment opportunities and work environments in ways that shape worker health, safety, well-being and equity. In this article, we present an agenda to guide research examining the implications of AI on the intersection between work and health. To build the agenda, a full day meeting was organized and attended by 50 participants including researchers from diverse disciplines and applied stakeholders. Facilitated meeting discussions aimed to set research priorities related to workplace AI applications and its impact on the health of workers, including critical research questions, methodological approaches, data needs, and resource requirements. Discussions also aimed to identify groups of workers and working contexts that may benefit from AI adoption as well as those that may be disadvantaged by AI. Discussions were synthesized into four research agenda areas: (1) examining the impact of stronger AI on human workers; (2) advancing responsible and healthy AI; (3) informing AI policy for worker health, safety, well-being, and equitable employment; and (4) understanding and addressing worker and employer knowledge needs regarding AI applications. The agenda provides a roadmap for researchers to build a critical evidence base on the impact of AI on workers and workplaces, and will ensure that worker health, safety, well-being, and equity are at the forefront of workplace AI system design and adoption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arif Jetha
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hela Bakhtari
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura C Rosella
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Temerty Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education in Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Vector Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Monique A M Gignac
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aviroop Biswas
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Faraz V Shahidi
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brendan T Smith
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Health Promotion, Chronic Disease, and Injury Prevention, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maxwell J Smith
- School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cameron Mustard
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Naimul Khan
- Depratment of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victoria H Arrandale
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter J Loewen
- Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniyal Zuberi
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jack T Dennerlein
- Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Center for Work, Health, and Wellbeing, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Silvia Bonaccio
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicole Wu
- Department of Political Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emma Irvin
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter M Smith
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Bitencourt FV, Lia EN, Pauletto P, Martins CC, Stefani CM, Massignan C, Canto GDL. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among oral health care workers worldwide: A meta-analysis. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2023; 51:718-728. [PMID: 36576013 PMCID: PMC9880752 DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This systematic review aimed to answer the following question 'What are the worldwide prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated factors among oral health-care workers (OHCWs) before vaccination?' METHODS Seven databases and registers as well as three grey databases were searched for observational studies in the field. Paired reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data and assessed the methodological quality. Overall seroprevalence for SARS-CoV-2 infection was analysed using a random-effect model subgrouped by professional category. Meta-regression was used to explore whether the Human Development Index (HDI) influenced the heterogeneity of results. The associated factors were narratively evaluated, and the certainty of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. RESULTS Seventeen studies were included (five cohorts and twelve cross-sectional studies), summing 73 935 participants (54 585 dentists and 19 350 dental assistants/technicians) from 14 countries. The overall estimated pooled prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among OHCWs was 9.3% (95% CI, 5.0%-14.7%; I2 = 100%, p < .01), being 9.5% for dentists (95% CI, 5.1%-15.0%; I2 = 100%, p < .01) and 11.6% for dental assistants/technicians (95% CI, 1.6%-27.4%; I2 = 99.0%, p < .01). In the meta-regression, countries with lower HDI showed higher prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection (p = .002). Age, comorbidities, gender, ethnicity, occupation, smoking, living in areas of greater deprivation, job role and location/municipalities, income and protective measures in dental settings were associated with positive serological SARS-CoV-2 test, with very low certainty of evidence. CONCLUSIONS The SARS-CoV-2 virus infected 9.3% of the OHCWs evaluated worldwide before vaccination. OHCWs should be included in policy considerations, continued research, monitoring and surveillance (PROSPERO CRD42021246520).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Valentim Bitencourt
- Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Section for PeriodontologyAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Steno Diabetes Center AarhusAarhusDenmark
| | - Erica Negrini Lia
- Department of Dentistry, School of Health SciencesUniversity of BrasíliaBrasíliaBrazil
| | - Patrícia Pauletto
- Brazilian Centre for Evidence‐Based Research (COBE), Department of DentistryFederal University of Santa CatarinaFlorianópolisBrazil
- Dentistry of SchoolUniversidad De Las Américas (UDLA)QuitoEcuador
| | - Carolina Castro Martins
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of DentistryFederal University of Minas GeraisBelo HorizonteBrazil
| | - Cristine Miron Stefani
- Brazilian Centre for Evidence‐Based Research (COBE) and Department of DentistryUniversity of BrasíliaBrasíliaBrazil
| | - Carla Massignan
- Brazilian Centre for Evidence‐Based Research (COBE) and Department of DentistryUniversity of BrasíliaBrasíliaBrazil
| | - Graziela De Luca Canto
- Brazilian Centre for Evidence‐Based Research (COBE), Department of DentistryFederal University of Santa CatarinaFlorianópolisBrazil
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LeGoff DB, Lazarovic J, Kofeldt M, Peters A. Neurocognitive and Symptom Validity Testing for Post-COVID-19 Condition in a Workers Compensation Context. J Occup Environ Med 2023; 65:803-812. [PMID: 37442762 PMCID: PMC10581420 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Efficacy of a neurocognitive screening evaluation (NCSE) in assessing symptoms and disability associated with post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) and facilitating employee recovery and return to work was evaluated. METHODS An NCSE was administered to 64 employees off work because of neurocognitive complaints attributed to post-COVID-19 condition. Neurocognitive and symptom validity data were analyzed along with recovery and return-to-work timelines. RESULTS A large percentage of the employees gave invalid responses and noncredible effort on psychological and cognitive tests (48%). The NCSEs with invalid profiles suggested more severe cognitive and psychiatric symptoms than valid profiles. Both valid and invalid groups had significant reductions in illness duration and lost workdays after the NCSE. CONCLUSIONS Post-COVID-19 condition resulted in reports of mild to moderate cognitive and psychiatric symptoms with extensive mean work leave of 11 months before mental health assessment. Regardless of symptom validity, after the NCSE, the employees were released to work at an average of 3 weeks.
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15
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Lou J, Borjigin S, Tang C, Saadat Y, Hu M, Niemeier DA. Facility design and worker justice: COVID-19 transmission in meatpacking plants. Am J Ind Med 2023; 66:713-727. [PMID: 37329208 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Meatpacking plants were major sources of COVID-19 outbreaks, posing unprecedented risks to employees, family members, and local communities. The effect on food availability during outbreaks was immediate and staggering: within 2 months, the price of beef increased by almost 7% with documented evidence of significant meat shortages. Meatpacking plant designs, in general, optimize on production; this design approach constrains the ability to enhance worker respiratory protection without reducing output. METHODS Using agent-based modeling, we simulate the spread of COVID-19 within a typical meatpacking plant design under varying levels of mitigation measures, including combinations of social distancing and masking interventions. RESULTS Simulations show an average infection rate of close to 99% with no mitigation, 99% with the policies that US companies ultimately adopted, 81% infected with the combination of surgical masks and distancing policies, and 71% infected with N95 masks and distancing. Estimated infection rates were high, reflecting the duration and exertion of the processing activities and lack of fresh airflow in an enclosed space. CONCLUSION Our results are consistent with anecdotal findings in a recent congressional report, and are much higher than US industry has reported. Our results suggest current processing plant designs made rapid transmission of the virus during the pandemic's early days almost inevitable, and implemented worker protections during COVID-19 did not significantly affect the spread of the virus. We argue current federal policies and regulations are insufficient to ensure the health and safety of workers, creating a justice issue, and jeopardizing food availability in a future pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiehong Lou
- School of Public Policy, Center for Global Sustainability, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Sachraa Borjigin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Connie Tang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Yalda Saadat
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Ming Hu
- School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Deb A Niemeier
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
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Vachon TE, Wallace M, Li A. Unions, democracy, and Trump: Deconstructing the COVID-19 vaccination crisis of 2021. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 2023; 115:102918. [PMID: 37858361 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2023.102918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges for U.S. workers, especially those in essential occupations. As most public health experts view vaccination as the only certain path to defeating the virus, this study examines how union membership, political participation, and support for Trump have affected adult vaccination rates. The analyses also explore how these interrelated factors intersect to either exacerbate or reduce the ongoing public health crisis. Using vaccination data from 3112 U.S. counties in July of 2021, this study finds strong support for claims that localities with high levels of support for Trump have lower percentages of adults vaccinated, while areas with higher union coverage and higher voter turnout are associated with higher rates of vaccination. Moreover, the results show that the positive effects of union density are enhanced in counties with higher rates of voter turnout and support for Trump, revealing a complex relationship between unions, democracy and partisan politics. The results suggest that workplace and political democracy can effectively facilitate individual and collective responses to large-scale collective action problems such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd E Vachon
- School of Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers University, USA.
| | | | - Angran Li
- Center for Applied and Economic Research (CASER), New York University-Shanghai, China
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Torén K, Albin M, Bergström T, Murgia N, Alderling M, Schiöler L, Åberg M. Occupational risks associated with severe COVID-19 disease and SARS-CoV-2 infection - a Swedish national case-control study conducted from October 2020 to December 2021. Scand J Work Environ Health 2023; 49:386-394. [PMID: 37417898 PMCID: PMC10789521 DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.4103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate whether workplace factors and occupations are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 in the later waves of the pandemic. METHODS We studied 552 562 cases with a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 in the Swedish registry of communicable diseases, and 5985 cases with severe COVID-19 based on hospital admissions from October 2020 to December 2021. Four population controls were assigned the index dates of their corresponding cases. We linked job histories to job-exposure matrices to assess the odds for different transmission dimensions and different occupations. We used adjusted conditional logistic analyses to estimate odds ratios (OR) for severe COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS The highest OR for severe COVID-19 were for: regular contact with infected patients, (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.23-1.54), close physical proximity (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.34-1.61), and high exposure to diseases or infections (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.52-1.96). Mostly working outside had lower OR (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.57-1.06). The odds for SARS-CoV-2 when mostly working outside were similar (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.80-0.86). The occupation with the highest OR for severe COVID-19 (compared with low-exposure occupations) was certified specialist physician (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.31-3.21) among women and bus and tram drivers (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.49-2.79) among men. CONCLUSIONS Contact with infected patients, close proximity and crowded workplaces increase the risks for severe COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Outdoor work is associated with decreased odds for SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjell Torén
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Wahrendorf M, Schaps V, Reuter M, Hoebel J, Wachtler B, Jacob J, Alibone M, Dragano N. [Occupational differences of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in Germany. An analysis of health insurance data from 3.17 million insured persons]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2023; 66:857-868. [PMID: 37466654 PMCID: PMC10371894 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-023-03738-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During the COVID-19 pandemic, occupation was assumed to play a central role in the occurrence of infection and disease. For Germany, however, there are only a few studies that analyse occupational differences in risk of COVID-19, COVID-19-associated hospitalisation, and mortality. METHODS The study uses longitudinal health insurance data from the research database of the Institute for Applied Health Research (InGef) with information on 3.17 million insured persons aged 18-67 years (1,488,452 women; 1,684,705 men). Outcomes (morbidity, hospitalisation, and mortality) were determined on the basis of submitted COVID-19 diagnoses between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021. Occupations were classified according to four groupings of the official German classification of occupations. In addition to cumulative incidences, relative risks (RR) were calculated - separately for men and women. RESULTS There is an increased risk of disease in personal service occupations, especially in health care, compared to other occupations (RR for women 1.46; for men 1.30). The same applies to social and cultural service occupations (but only for women) and for manufacturing occupations (only for men). In addition, the risks for hospitalisation and mortality are increased for cleaning occupations and transport and logistics occupations (especially for men). For all three outcomes, the risks are higher in non-managerial occupations and differ by skill level (highest for unskilled jobs and lowest for expert positions). CONCLUSION The study provides important findings on work- and gender-related differences in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in Germany, which indicate starting points for structural infection protection measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morten Wahrendorf
- Institut für Medizinische Soziologie, Centre for Health and Society, Medizinische Fakultät und Universitätsklinikum, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
| | - Valerie Schaps
- Institut für Medizinische Soziologie, Centre for Health and Society, Medizinische Fakultät und Universitätsklinikum, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
| | - Marvin Reuter
- Juniorprofessur für Soziologie, insb. Arbeit und Gesundheit, Fakultät für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, Bamberg, Deutschland
| | - Jens Hoebel
- Fachgebiet Soziale Determinanten der Gesundheit, Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Benjamin Wachtler
- Fachgebiet Soziale Determinanten der Gesundheit, Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Josephine Jacob
- InGef - Institut für angewandte Gesundheitsforschung, Berlin GmbH, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Marco Alibone
- InGef - Institut für angewandte Gesundheitsforschung, Berlin GmbH, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Nico Dragano
- Institut für Medizinische Soziologie, Centre for Health and Society, Medizinische Fakultät und Universitätsklinikum, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
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19
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Brown JL. Addressing Racial Capitalism's Impact on Black Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Policy Recommendations. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023; 10:1597-1604. [PMID: 35689156 PMCID: PMC9187152 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-022-01346-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Black Americans are more likely to be essential workers due to racial capitalism. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, essential workers are less able to adhere to social distancing and stay-at-home guidelines due to the nature of their work, because they are more likely to occupy crowded households, and are more likely to possess pre-existing health conditions. To assist Black essential workers in preventing infection or reducing the intensity of symptoms if contracted, vaccination against the virus is essential. Unfortunately, Black essential workers face considerable barriers to accessing vaccinations and are hesitant to receive the vaccine due to widespread misinformation and justified historical mistrust of the American medical system. The purpose of this work is to (1) describe the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black essential workers due to racial capitalism, (2) outline the socioeconomic and racial barriers related to vaccination within this population, and (3) to suggest policy-related approaches to facilitate vaccination such as access to on-site vaccination opportunities, the funding of community outreach efforts, and the mandating of increased employee benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn L Brown
- School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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20
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Haro‐Ramos AY, Brown TT, Deardorff J, Aguilera A, Pollack Porter KM, Rodriguez HP. Frontline work and racial disparities in social and economic pandemic stressors during the first COVID-19 surge. Health Serv Res 2023; 58 Suppl 2:186-197. [PMID: 36718961 PMCID: PMC10339174 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the magnitude of racial-ethnic disparities in pandemic-related social stressors and examine frontline work's moderating relationship on these stressors. DATA SOURCES Employed Californians' responses to the Institute for Governmental Studies (IGS) poll from April 16-20, 2020, were analyzed. The Pandemic Stressor Scale (PSS) assessed the extent to which respondents experienced or anticipated problems resulting from the inability to pay for basic necessities, job instability, lacking paid sick leave, unavailability of childcare, and reduced wages or work hours due to COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN Mixed-effects generalized linear models estimated (1) racial-ethnic disparities in pandemic stressors among workers during the first COVID-19 surge, adjusting for covariates, and (2) tested the interaction between race-ethnicity and frontline worker status, which includes a subset of essential workers who must perform their job on-site, to assess differential associations of frontline work by race-ethnicity. DATA COLLECTION The IGS poll data from employed workers (n = 4795) were linked to the 2018 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index at the zip code level (N = 1068). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The average PSS score was 37.34 (SD = 30.49). Whites had the lowest PSS score (29.88, SD = 26.52), and Latinxs had the highest (50.74, SD = 32.61). In adjusted analyses, Black frontline workers reported more pandemic-related stressors than White frontline workers (PSS = 47.73 vs. 36.96, p < 0.001). Latinxs reported more pandemic stressors irrespective of frontline worker status. However, the 5.09-point difference between Latinx frontline and non-frontline workers was not statistically different from the 4.6-point disparity between White frontline and non-frontline workers. CONCLUSION Latinx workers and Black frontline workers disproportionately reported pandemic-related stressors. To reduce stress on frontline workers during crises, worker protections like paid sick leave, universal access to childcare, and improved job security are needed, particularly for those disproportionately affected by structural inequities, such as racially minoritized populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alein Y. Haro‐Ramos
- Health Policy and ManagementUniversity of California Berkeley School of Public HealthBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Timothy T. Brown
- Health Policy and ManagementUniversity of California Berkeley School of Public HealthBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Julianna Deardorff
- Health Policy and ManagementUniversity of California Berkeley School of Public HealthBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
- Community Health SciencesUniversity of California Berkeley School of Public HealthBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Adrian Aguilera
- Health Policy and ManagementUniversity of California Berkeley School of Public HealthBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
- School of Social Welfare BerkeleyUniversity of California BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Keshia M. Pollack Porter
- Department of Health Policy and ManagementJohns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Hector P. Rodriguez
- Health Policy and ManagementUniversity of California Berkeley School of Public HealthBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
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21
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Garg S, Saini P, Rizvi MR, Ahmad F, AlTaweel M, Sabah ZU, Durrani HK, Almasswary SA, Seyam MK, Sharma A, Ahmad I, Marzoogi SA, Shaphe MA, Uddin S, Ahmad I. The Cardiac Comeback-Beating Stronger: Exploring the Remarkable Resilience of the Heart in COVID-19 Recovery through Cardiac Autonomic Analysis. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1397. [PMID: 37629687 PMCID: PMC10456477 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59081397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Analyzing the cardiac autonomic function in COVID-19 patients can provide insights into the impact of the virus on the heart's regulatory mechanisms and its recovery. The autonomic nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating the heart's functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on heart rate variability (HRV) during a 6-min walk test (6MWT). Materials and Methods: The study included 74 participants, consisting of 37 individuals who had recovered from mild to moderate COVID-19 and 37 healthy controls. The study assessed heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure both before and after a 6-min walk test (6MWT). Results: The study found significant differences in a few time domains (SDNN and pNN50) and all frequency domain measures, whereas there were no significant differences in demographic characteristics or blood pressure between COVID-19-recovered individuals and healthy controls at rest. There were significant 6MWT effects on average HR, time-domain (SDNN and pNN50) measures of HRV, and all frequency domain measures of HRV. A significant group × 6MWT interaction was found for SDNN, pNN50, total power, Ln total power, LF, HF, Ln LF, Ln HF, and LF nu. Conclusions: Cardiac Autonomic analysis through HRV is essential to ensure the continued health and well-being of COVID-19 survivors and to minimize the potential long-term impacts of the disease on their cardiovascular system. This suggests that HRV analysis during the recovery phase following exercise could serve as a valuable tool for evaluating the physiological effects of COVID-19 and monitoring the recovery process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakshi Garg
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute and Studies (MRIIRS), Faridabad 121001, India; (S.G.); (P.S.); (A.S.); (I.A.)
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, MVN University, Palwal 121102, Haryana, India
| | - Preeti Saini
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute and Studies (MRIIRS), Faridabad 121001, India; (S.G.); (P.S.); (A.S.); (I.A.)
| | - Moattar Raza Rizvi
- School of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute and Studies (MRIIRS), Faridabad 121001, India;
| | - Fuzail Ahmad
- Respiratory Care Department, College of Applied Sciences, Almaarefa University, Diriya 13713, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohammed AlTaweel
- Respiratory Care Department, College of Applied Sciences, Almaarefa University, Diriya 13713, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Zia Ul Sabah
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia; (Z.U.S.); (H.K.D.)
| | - Humayoun K. Durrani
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia; (Z.U.S.); (H.K.D.)
| | | | - Mohamed K. Seyam
- Department of Physical Therapy & Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Almajmaah 15431, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ankita Sharma
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute and Studies (MRIIRS), Faridabad 121001, India; (S.G.); (P.S.); (A.S.); (I.A.)
| | - Irshad Ahmad
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute and Studies (MRIIRS), Faridabad 121001, India; (S.G.); (P.S.); (A.S.); (I.A.)
| | - Sara Al Marzoogi
- Respiratory Care Department, College of Applied Sciences, Almaarefa University, Diriya 13713, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohammad A. Shaphe
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia; (M.A.S.); (S.U.)
| | - Shadab Uddin
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia; (M.A.S.); (S.U.)
| | - Irshad Ahmad
- Department of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia;
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22
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Rivera-Cuadrado W. Healthcare practitioners' construction of occupational risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. Soc Sci Med 2023; 331:116096. [PMID: 37478661 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE In the pandemic's first year, frontline healthcare practitioners (HCPs) experienced a disproportionate burden of COVID-19's negative effects, including infection, death, trauma and burnout. Qualitative research is needed to understand practitioners' experiences to address the unique challenges they face. To this end, this article investigates occupational factors identified by practitioners as relevant to their risk perceptions. By positioning HCPs as a distinctive risk group in the hierarchical space of risk group prioritization, this analysis extends thinking about such classifications within medicine. METHODS Remote interviews were conducted between 2020 and 2022 with 45 U.S. practitioners, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician associates, registered nurses and technicians. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded using NVivo to analyze how practitioners understood their occupational risk. RESULTS Participants' risk perceptions focused on three concerns. First, working within spatial concentrations of COVID-19 required adapting procedures and reimagining their bodies as potentially hazardous. Second, the limitations of protective measures elevated concerns about healthcare work, and were perceived as pitting practitioners' health against patient care and administrative needs. Third, managing the many uncertainties about COVID-19 meant HCPs risked both its known and unknown effects. CONCLUSION This study examines frontline practitioners' perceptions of occupational risk during the pandemic. It argues two tensions underlie practitioners' risk perceptions. First, like other essential workers, HCPs constituted a unique risk group that distinguished them from other vulnerable populations - due to risks arising from occupational rather than biomedical factors. Second, unlike other essential workers, practitioners were directly exposed to infectious patients that posed risks to their health. These elements each highlight a perceived gap between practitioners' and administrators' risk perceptions that facilitated HCP cynicism about guidelines. Future research may fruitfully investigate if these themes persist outside the U.S. and across healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne Rivera-Cuadrado
- Northwestern University, Department of Sociology, 1810 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
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23
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Kim JH, Yoon J, Kim SJ, Kim JY, Bahk J, Kim SS. Lack of compensation for COVID-19-related overtime work and its association with burnout among EMS providers in Korea. Epidemiol Health 2023; 45:e2023058. [PMID: 37340845 PMCID: PMC10667576 DOI: 10.4178/epih.e2023058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study examined the association between lack of compensation for COVID-19-related overtime work (LCCOW) and burnout among emergency medical service (EMS) providers in Seoul, Korea. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 693 EMS providers in Seoul, Korea. Participants were classified into 3 groups according to their experience of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related overtime work and LCCOW: (1) "did not experience," (2) "experienced and was compensated," and (3) "experienced and was not compensated." Burnout was measured using the Korean version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, which has 3 subdomains: personal burnout (PB), work-related burnout (WRB), and citizen-related burnout (CRB). Multiple linear regression was applied to examine whether LCCOW was associated with burnout after adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS In total, 74.2% of participants experienced COVID-19-related overtime work, and 14.6% of those who worked overtime experienced LCCOW. COVID-19-related overtime work showed a statistically non-significant association with burnout. However, the association differed by LCCOW. Compared to the "did not experience" group, the "experienced and was not compensated" group was associated with PB (β=10.519; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.455 to 17.584), WRB (β=10.339; 95% CI, 3.398 to 17.280), and CRB (β=12.290; 95% CI, 6.900 to 17.680), whereas no association was observed for the "experienced and was compensated" group. Furthermore, an analysis restricted to EMS providers who worked overtime due to COVID-19 showed that LCCOW was associated with PB (β=7.970; 95% CI, 1.064 to 14.876), WRB (β=7.276; 95% CI, 0.270 to 14.283), and CRB (β=10.000; 95% CI, 3.435 to 16.565). CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that LCCOW could be critical in worsening burnout among EMS providers who worked overtime due to COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hwan Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jaehong Yoon
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- National Traffic Injury Rehabilitation Research Institute, National Traffic Injury Rehabilitation Hospital, Yangpyeong, Korea
| | - Soo Jin Kim
- Fire Science Research Center, Seoul Metropolitan Fire Service Academy, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ja Young Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jinwook Bahk
- Department of Public Health, Keimyung University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Seung-Sup Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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24
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Torén K, Albin M, Bergström T, Alderling M, Schioler L, Åberg M. Occupational risks for infection with influenza A and B: a national case-control study covering 1 July 2006-31 December 2019. Occup Environ Med 2023:oemed-2022-108755. [PMID: 37193595 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2022-108755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We investigated whether crowded workplaces, sharing surfaces and exposure to infections were factors associated with a positive test for influenza virus. METHODS We studied 11 300 cases with a positive test for influenza A and 3671 cases of influenza B from Swedish registry of communicable diseases. Six controls for each case were selected from the population registry, with each control being assigned the index date of their corresponding case. We linked job histories to job-exposure matrices (JEMs), to assess different transmission dimensions of influenza and risks for different occupations compared with occupations that the JEM classifies as low exposed. We used adjusted conditional logistic analyses to estimate the ORs for influenza with 95% CI. RESULTS The highest odds were for influenza were: regular contact with infected patients (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.54 to 1.73); never maintained social distance (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.43 to 1.59); frequently sharing materials/surfaces with the general public (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.34 to 1.48); close physical proximity (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.62) and high exposure to diseases or infections (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.44 to 1.64). There were small differences between influenza A and influenza B. The five occupations with the highest odds as compared with low exposed occupations were: primary care physicians, protective service workers, elementary workers, medical and laboratory technicians, and taxi drivers. CONCLUSIONS Contact with infected patients, low social distance and sharing surfaces are dimensions that increase risk for influenza A and B. Further safety measures are needed to diminish viral transmission in these contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjell Torén
- Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Maria Albin
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tomas Bergström
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Magnus Alderling
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linus Schioler
- Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Maria Åberg
- Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden
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25
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Garnier N, Sane F, Massara L, Soncin F, Gosset P, Hober D, Szunerits S, Engelmann I. Genes Involved in miRNA Biogenesis Are Not Downregulated in SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051177. [PMID: 37243263 DOI: 10.3390/v15051177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
miRNAs, small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression, are involved in various pathological processes, including viral infections. Virus infections may interfere with the miRNA pathway through the inhibition of genes involved in miRNA biogenesis. A reduction in the number and the levels of miRNAs expressed in nasopharyngeal swabs of patients with severe COVID-19 was lately observed by us, pointing towards the potential of miRNAs as possible diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for predicting outcomes among patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 infection influences the expression levels of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of key genes involved in miRNA biogenesis. mRNA levels of AGO2, DICER1, DGCR8, DROSHA, and Exportin-5 (XPO5) were measured by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in nasopharyngeal swab specimens from patients with COVID-19 and controls, as well as in cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Our data showed that the mRNA expression levels of AGO2, DICER1, DGCR8, DROSHA, and XPO5 were not significantly different in patients with severe COVID-19 when compared to patients with non-severe COVID-19 and controls. Similarly, the mRNA expression of these genes was not affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection in NHBE and Calu-3 cells. However, in Vero E6 cells, AGO2, DICER1, DGCR8, and XPO5 mRNA levels were slightly upregulated 24 h after infection with SARS-CoV-2. In conclusion, we did not find evidence for downregulation of mRNA levels of miRNA biogenesis genes during SARS-CoV-2 infection, neither ex vivo nor in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Garnier
- Laboratoire de Virologie ULR3610, University Lille and CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, Univ. Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, UMR 8520, IEMN, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Famara Sane
- Laboratoire de Virologie ULR3610, University Lille and CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Layal Massara
- CNRS UMR 9017, Inserm U1019, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, CIIL-OpInfIELD, University Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Fabrice Soncin
- CNRS/IIS/Centre Oscar Lambret/Lille University SMMiL-E Project, CNRS Délégation Hauts-de-France, F-59000 Lille, France
- Laboratory for Integrated Micro Mechatronic Systems, Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, CNRS IRL2820, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Philippe Gosset
- CNRS UMR 9017, Inserm U1019, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, CIIL-OpInfIELD, University Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Didier Hober
- Laboratoire de Virologie ULR3610, University Lille and CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Sabine Szunerits
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, Univ. Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, UMR 8520, IEMN, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Ilka Engelmann
- Laboratoire de Virologie ULR3610, University Lille and CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
- PCCEI, University Montpellier, INSERM, EFS, CHU Montpellier, F-34000 Montpellier, France
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26
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Haanappel CP, Oude Munnink BB, Sikkema RS, Voor In 't Holt AF, de Jager H, de Boever R, Koene HHHT, Boter M, Chestakova IV, van der Linden A, Molenkamp R, Osbak KK, Arcilla MS, Vos MC, Koopmans MPG, Severin JA. Combining epidemiological data and whole genome sequencing to understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics in a large tertiary care hospital during the first COVID-19 wave in The Netherlands focusing on healthcare workers. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2023; 12:46. [PMID: 37165456 PMCID: PMC10170429 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-023-01247-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthcare facilities have been challenged by the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between healthcare workers (HCW) and patients. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, infections among HCW were observed, questioning infection prevention and control (IPC) measures implemented at that time. AIM This study aimed to identify nosocomial transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 between HCW and patients in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS All SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive HCW and patients identified between 1 March and 19 May 2020, were included in the analysis. Epidemiological data were collected from patient files and HCW contact tracing interviews. Whole genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 were generated using Nanopore sequencing (WGS). Epidemiological clusters were identified, whereafter WGS and epidemiological data were combined for re-evaluation of epidemiological clusters and identification of potential transmission clusters. HCW infections were further classified into categories based on the likelihood that the infection was acquired via nosocomial transmission. Secondary cases were defined as COVID-19 cases in our hospital, part of a transmission cluster, of which the index case was either a patient or HCW from our hospital. FINDINGS The study population consisted of 293 HCW and 245 patients. Epidemiological data revealed 36 potential epidemiological clusters, with an estimated 222 (75.7%) HCW as secondary cases. WGS results were available for 195 HCW (88.2%) and 20 patients (12.8%) who belonged to an epidemiological cluster. Re-evaluation of the epidemiological clusters, with the available WGS data identified 31 transmission clusters with 65 (29.4%) HCW as secondary cases. Transmission clusters were all part of 18 (50.0%) previously determined epidemiological clusters, demonstrating that several larger outbreaks actually consisted, of several smaller transmission clusters. A total of 21 (7.2%) HCW infections were classified as from confirmed nosocomial, of which 18 were acquired from another HCW and 3 from a patient. CONCLUSION The majority of SARS-CoV-2 infections among HCW could be attributed to community-acquired infection. Infections among HCW that could be classified as due to nosocomial transmission, were mainly caused by HCW-to-HCW transmission rather than patient-to-HCW transmission. It is important to recognize the uncertainties of cluster analyses based solely on epidemiological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia P Haanappel
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bas B Oude Munnink
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Reina S Sikkema
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne F Voor In 't Holt
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Herbert de Jager
- Department of Occupational Health Services, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rieneke de Boever
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Heidy H H T Koene
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marjan Boter
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Irina V Chestakova
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne van der Linden
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Richard Molenkamp
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kara K Osbak
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maris S Arcilla
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Margreet C Vos
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marion P G Koopmans
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Juliëtte A Severin
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Groenewold MR, Billock R, Free H, Burrer SL, Sweeney MH, Wong J, Lavender A, Argueta G, Crawford HL, Erukunuakpor K, Karlsson ND, Armenti K, Thomas H, Gaetz K, Dang G, Harduar-Morano L, Modji K, Luckhaupt SE. Excess risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among in-person nonhealthcare workers in six states, September 2020-June 2021. Am J Ind Med 2023. [PMID: 37153939 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While the occupational risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection for healthcare personnel in the United States has been relatively well characterized, less information is available on the occupational risk for workers employed in other settings. Even fewer studies have attempted to compare risks across occupations and industries. Using differential proportionate distribution as an approximation, we evaluated excess risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection by occupation and industry among non-healthcare workers in six states. METHODS We analyzed data on occupation and industry of employment from a six-state callback survey of adult non-healthcare workers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and population-based reference data on employment patterns, adjusted for the effect of telework, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. We estimated the differential proportionate distribution of SARS-CoV-2 infection by occupation and industry using the proportionate morbidity ratio (PMR). RESULTS Among a sample of 1111 workers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, significantly higher-than-expected proportions of workers were employed in service occupations (PMR 1.3, 99% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-1.5) and in the transportation and utilities (PMR 1.4, 99% CI 1.1-1.8) and leisure and hospitality industries (PMR 1.5, 99% CI 1.2-1.9). CONCLUSIONS We found evidence of significant differences in the proportionate distribution of SARS-CoV-2 infection by occupation and industry among respondents in a multistate, population-based survey, highlighting the excess risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection borne by some worker populations, particularly those whose jobs require frequent or prolonged close contact with other people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Groenewold
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Rachael Billock
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Hannah Free
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Sherry L Burrer
- Emergency Preparedness and Response Office, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Marie Haring Sweeney
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jessie Wong
- California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Nicole D Karlsson
- New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Concord, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Karla Armenti
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Hannah Thomas
- New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Concord, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Kim Gaetz
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gialana Dang
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Western States Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Laurel Harduar-Morano
- Pennsylvania Department of Health, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of State and Local Readiness, Center for Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Komi Modji
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Sara E Luckhaupt
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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28
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de Rooij MM, Sikkema RS, Bouwknegt M, de Geus Y, Stanoeva KR, Nieuwenweg S, van Dam AS, Raben C, Dohmen W, Heederik D, Reusken C, Meijer A, Koopmans MP, Franz E, Smit LA. A Comprehensive Sampling Study on SARS-CoV-2 Contamination of Air and Surfaces in a Large Meat Processing Plant Experiencing COVID-19 Clusters in June 2020. J Occup Environ Med 2023; 65:e227-e233. [PMID: 36640441 PMCID: PMC10090283 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess SARS-CoV-2 contamination of air and surfaces to gain insight into potential occupational exposure in a large meat processing plant experiencing COVID-19 clusters. Methods: Oro-nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 screening was performed in 76 workers. Environmental samples ( n = 275) including air, ventilation systems, sewage, and swabs of high-touch surfaces and workers' hands were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Twenty-seven (35.5%) of the (predominantly asymptomatic) workers tested positive with modest to low viral loads (cycle threshold ≥ 29.7). Six of 203 surface swabs, 1 of 12 personal air samples, and one of four sewage samples tested positive; other samples tested negative. Conclusions: Although one third of workers tested positive, environmental contamination was limited. Widespread SARS-CoV-2 transmission via air and surfaces was considered unlikely within this plant at the time of investigation while strict COVID-19 control measures were already implemented.
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29
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Meza E, Cummings KJ, Vergara XP, Lai KW, Lim E, Lamba K, Kamali A, Bibbins-Domingo K, Jain S, Mehrotra ML. Evaluating the association between in-person work and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection through June 2021. Am J Ind Med 2023; 66:222-232. [PMID: 36645337 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recent studies have evaluated COVID-19 outbreaks and excess mortality by occupation sectors. Studies on SARS-CoV-2 infection across occupation and occupation-related factors remain lacking. In this study, we estimate the effect of in-person work on SARS-CoV-2 infection risk and describe SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among working adults. METHODS We used Wave 1 data (May to June 2021) from CalScope, a population-based seroprevalence study in California. Occupation data were coded using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Industry and Occupation Computerized Coding System. Dried blood spot specimens were tested for antibodies to establish evidence of prior infection. We estimated the causal effect of in-person work on SARS-CoV-2 infection risk using the g-formula and describe SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence across occupation-related factors. RESULTS Among 4335 working adults, 53% worked in person. In-person work was associated with increased risk of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (risk difference: 0.03; [95% CI: 0.02-0.04]) compared with working remotely. Workers that reported job loss or who were without medical insurance had higher evidence of prior infection. Amongst in-person workers, evidence of prior infection was highest within farming, fishing, and forestry (55%; [95% CI: 26%-81%]); installation, maintenance, and repair (23%; [12%-39%]); building and grounds cleaning and maintenance (23%; [13%-36%]); food preparation and serving related (22% [13%-35%]); and healthcare support (22%; [13%-34%]) occupations. Workers who identified as Latino, reported a household income of <$25K, or who were without a bachelor's degree also had higher evidence of prior infection. CONCLUSIONS SARS-CoV-2 infection risk varies by occupation. Future vaccination strategies may consider prioritizing in-person workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Meza
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Ximena P Vergara
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA.,Heluna Health, City of Industry, California, USA
| | - Kristina W Lai
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA
| | - Esther Lim
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA
| | - Katherine Lamba
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA
| | - Amanda Kamali
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA
| | - Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Seema Jain
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA
| | - Megha L Mehrotra
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA
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30
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Osorio-Toro LM, Bonilla-Bonilla DM, Daza-Arana JE, Aristizábal JC, Ávila-Valencia JC, Ramírez-Marmolejo R. Prevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and Associated Factors Among Health Care Workers in Santiago De Cali, Colombia. Int J Gen Med 2023; 16:697-705. [PMID: 36866168 PMCID: PMC9970879 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s396357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among health care workers and describe the associated sociodemographic and labor features. Patients and Methods An observational study with an analytical component was conducted at a clinic in Cali, Colombia. The sample size was 708 health workers and they were selected by stratified random sampling. A Bayesian analysis was developed to determine the raw and adjusted prevalence. A Poisson regression model was used to estimate the prevalence ratios. Results Overall seroprevalence of COVID-19 among healthcare workers was 29%. Miscellaneous services workers, healthcare, and administrative workers, was 38%, 33%, and 32%, respectively. Factors related to seropositivity were having a contact with a COVID-19 patient for >120 minutes and being diagnosed with COVID-19 by laboratory tests. Conclusion The present study shows a adjusted seroprevalence of 29% in health workers, indicating a high level of disease transmission and an increased risk of infection in this population group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Miguel Osorio-Toro
- Internal Medicine Specialization Program, Department of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Santiago de CaliColombia,Genetics, Physiology, and Metabolism Research Group, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Santiago de CaliColombia,Department of Research and Education, Clínica de Occidente SA, Santiago de Cali, Colombia
| | - Diana Marcela Bonilla-Bonilla
- Internal Medicine Specialization Program, Department of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Santiago de CaliColombia,Genetics, Physiology, and Metabolism Research Group, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Santiago de CaliColombia,Department of Research and Education, Clínica de Occidente SA, Santiago de Cali, Colombia
| | - Jorge Enrique Daza-Arana
- Internal Medicine Specialization Program, Department of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Santiago de CaliColombia,Health and Movement Research Group, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Santiago de CaliColombia,Correspondence: Jorge Enrique Daza-Arana, Specialization Program in Internal Medicine, Department of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Calle 5 # 62-00, Santiago de Cali, Colombia, Tel +57 3108923676, Email
| | | | - Juan Carlos Ávila-Valencia
- Department of Research and Education, Clínica de Occidente SA, Santiago de Cali, Colombia,Health and Movement Research Group, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Santiago de CaliColombia
| | - Roberto Ramírez-Marmolejo
- Internal Medicine Specialization Program, Department of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Santiago de CaliColombia
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31
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A Statistical Synopsis of COVID-19 Components and Descriptive Analysis of Their Socio-Economic and Healthcare Aspects in Bangladesh Perspective. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 2023:9738094. [PMID: 36815185 PMCID: PMC9940984 DOI: 10.1155/2023/9738094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the work is to analyze the socio-economic and healthcare aspects that arise in the contemporary COVID-19 situation from Bangladesh perspective. We elaborately discuss the successive COVID-19 occurrences in Bangladesh with consequential information. The components associated with the COVID-19 commencement and treatment policy with corresponding features and their consequences are patently delineated. The effect of troublesome issues related to the treatment is detailed with supporting real-time data. We elucidate the applications of modern technologies advancement in epidemiological aspects and their existent compatibility in Bangladesh. We statistically analyze the real-time data through figurative and tabular approaches. Some relevant measures of central tendency and dispersion are utilized to explore the data structure and its observable specifications. For a clear manifestation, Z- scores of the COVID-19 components are analyzed through the Box-Whisker plot. We have discovered that the gathered data exhibit features that are unsatisfactory for the normal distribution, are highly positively skewed, and are predominated by the earliest occurrences. Infections and deaths were initially lower than the global average, but they drastically rose in the first quarter of 2021 and persisted for the remainder of the year. Substantial preventive results were produced by the region-wisetime-worthy moves. In the fourth quarter of 2021, the infections and deaths noticeably decreased, and the number of recoveries was highly significant. In the middle of 2022, a lethal rise in infections was observed in Bangladesh and that was quickly stabilized, and the pandemic ingredients were under control. According to our assessment, some concluding remarks are made at the end of this work.
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32
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Jeebhay MF, Naidoo RN, Naidoo S, Adams S, Zungu M, Kgalomono S, Naicker N, Kistnasamy B. Strengthening Social Compact and Innovative Health Sector Collaborations in Addressing COVID-19 in South African Workplaces. New Solut 2023; 32:288-303. [PMID: 36650981 PMCID: PMC9852971 DOI: 10.1177/10482911221150237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Workplaces are nodes for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 transmission and require strategies to protect workers' health. This article reports on the South African national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) strategy that sought to ensure workers' health, protect the economic activity, safeguard livelihoods and support health services. Data from the Occupational Health Surveillance System, Surveillance System of Sentinel Hospital Sites, and government databases (public sector health worker and Compensation Fund data) was supplemented by peer-reviewed articles and grey literature. A multipronged, multi-stakeholder response to occupational health and safety (OHS) policy development, risk management, health surveillance, information, and training was adopted, underpinned by scientific input, through collaboration between government, organized labour, employer bodies, academia, and community partners. This resulted in government-promulgated legislation addressing OHS, sectoral guidelines, and work-related COVID-19 worker's compensation. The OHS Workstream of the National Department of Health provided leadership and technical support for COVID-specific workplace guidelines and practices, surveillance, information, and training, as well as a workplace-based vaccination strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed F. Jeebhay
- Occupational Medicine Division, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Rajen N. Naidoo
- Discipline of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,Rajen N. Naidoo, Discipline of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Room 321, George Campbell Building, Durban, 4041, South Africa.
| | - Saloshni Naidoo
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Shahieda Adams
- Occupational Medicine Division, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Muzimkhulu Zungu
- National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa,School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Spo Kgalomono
- National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Nisha Naicker
- National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa,Department of Environmental Health, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Barry Kistnasamy
- Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases, National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa
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33
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Torén K, Albin M, Alderling M, Schiöler L, Åberg M. Transmission factors and exposure to infections at work and invasive pneumococcal disease. Am J Ind Med 2023; 66:65-74. [PMID: 36385261 PMCID: PMC10100104 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Working in close contacts with coworkers or the general public may be associated with transmission of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). We investigated whether crowded workplaces, sharing surfaces, and exposure to infections were factors associated with IPD. METHODS We studied 3,968 cases of IPD, and selected six controls for each case from the Swedish population registry with each control being assigned the index date of their corresponding case. We linked job histories to job-exposure matrices to assess different transmission dimensions of pneumococci, as well as occupational exposure to fumes. We used adjusted conditional logistic analyses to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for IPD with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS ORs for IPD for the different transmission dimensions were increased moderately but were statistically significant. Compared to home-working or working alone, the highest odds was for Working mostly outside, or partly inside (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04-1.38). Estimates were higher in men for all dimensions, compared to women. The odds for IPD for Working mostly outside, or partly inside were 1.33 (95% CI 1.13-1.56) and 0.79 (95% CI 0.55-1.14) for men and women, respectively. Higher odds were seen for all transmission dimensions among those exposed to fumes, although CIs included unity. Contact with ill or infected patients did not increase the odds for IPD. CONCLUSION IPD was associated with working in close contact with coworkers or the general public, and with outside work, especially for men. Contact with infected patients or persons was not associated with IPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjell Torén
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, The Sahgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Discipline of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Maria Albin
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magnus Alderling
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linus Schiöler
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, The Sahgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Maria Åberg
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, The Sahgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Region Västra Götaland, Regionhälsan, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Soeder J, Neunhöffer AT, Wagner A, Preiser C, Rebholz B, Montano D, Schmitz N, Kauderer J, Papenfuss F, Klink A, Alsyte K, Rieger MA, Rind E. Assessing Differences in Attitudes toward Occupational Safety and Health Measures for Infection Control between Office and Assembly Line Employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Baseline Data from a Repeated Employee Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:614. [PMID: 36612934 PMCID: PMC9819385 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In our study, we investigated possible differences across occupational groups regarding employees’ perceived work-related risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, attitudes toward technical, organisational, and personal occupational safety and health (OSH) measures for infection control, and factors associated with this attitude. We analysed baseline data (10 August to 25 October 2020) from a repeated standardised online survey distributed at a worldwide leading global supplier of technology and services in Germany. 2144 employees (32.4% women; age (mean ± SD): 44 ± 11 years) who worked predominantly remotely (n = 358), at an on-site office (n = 1451), and assembly line/manufacturing (n = 335) were included. The work-related SARS-CoV-2 risk of infection differed between office employees working remotely and on-site (mean ± SD = 2.9 ± 1.5 vs. 3.2 ± 1.5; Mann-Whitney-U-Test: W = 283,346; p < 0.002; ε2 = 0.01) and between on-site office and assembly line/manufacturing employees (3.8 ± 1.7; W = 289,174; p < 0.001; ε2 = 0.02). Attitude scores toward technical OSH-measures differed between remote and on-site office (4.3 ± 0.5 vs. 4.1 ± 0.6; W = 216,787; p < 0.001; ε2 = 0.01), and between on-site office and assembly line/manufacturing employees (3.6 ± 0.9; W = 149,881; p < 0.001; ε2 = 0.07). Findings were similar for organisational and personal measures. Affective risk perception, COVID-19-specific resilience, and information about COVID-19-related risks were associated with the employees’ attitudes. To promote positive attitudes, it seems to be important to consider occupational-group-specific context factors when implementing OSH-measures for infection control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Soeder
- Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tübingen, University Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anna T. Neunhöffer
- Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tübingen, University Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anke Wagner
- Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tübingen, University Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christine Preiser
- Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tübingen, University Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Rebholz
- Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tübingen, University Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Diego Montano
- Department of Population-Based Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, University Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Norbert Schmitz
- Department of Population-Based Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, University Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Johanna Kauderer
- Medical Services, Robert Bosch GmbH, P.O. Box 10 60 50, 70049 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Falko Papenfuss
- Medical Services, Robert Bosch GmbH, P.O. Box 10 60 50, 70049 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Antje Klink
- Medical Services, Robert Bosch GmbH, P.O. Box 10 60 50, 70049 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Karina Alsyte
- Medical Services, Robert Bosch GmbH, P.O. Box 10 60 50, 70049 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Monika A. Rieger
- Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tübingen, University Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Esther Rind
- Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tübingen, University Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
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Rinsky-Halivni L, Brammli-Greenberg S, Christiani DC. Ageing workers' mental health during COVID-19: a multilevel observational study on the association with the work environment, perceived workplace safety and individual factors. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e064590. [PMID: 36572502 PMCID: PMC9805828 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The stress and anxiety associated with the predisposition of ageing workers to severe COVID-19 illness, once occupationally infected, jeopardise their mental health. This study aimed to investigate the association between individual level, work environment exposure factors and perceived workplace safety with a decline in mental health of ageing workers from different industry sectors. DESIGN Observational study, prevalence assessment of survey added to longitudinal cohort data. SETTING The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) from 27 countries in Europe and Israel participating in the COVID-19 survey (summer 2020) and having prepandemic waves' SHARE data. PARTICIPANTS Workers aged 50-70 (n=6449) who attended their workplaces at least partially after the pandemic broke out. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE Perceived decline in mental health compared with preoutbreak status. RESULTS Multilevel analyses demonstrated that 24.5% (95% CI 23.5% to 25.5%) of ageing workers in Europe experienced mental health decline associated with national-level self-reported COVID-19 burden. Workplace safety perception was the strongest predictor, as each one-point increase in unsafe perception was associated with 60% of mental health decline (OR=1.6, 95% CI 1.47 to 1.74), explaining 30% of increased reported mental health symptoms of ageing workers. Safety perception mediates the mental health outcomes of the work environment, such as workplace contagion risk and work location. Female gender (OR=1.77, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.02), financial difficulties (OR=1.19, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.28), higher vulnerability index (comorbidities, age >60) (OR=1.11, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.18), pre-existing mental problems (OR=1.78, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.04) and increased national burden of COVID-19 (OR=1.01, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.02) were associated with declines in mental health, whereas exclusively working on-site was protective. CONCLUSION Vulnerable subgroups for mental health declines among ageing workers were revealed, which warrant their screening and employers' evaluation of workplace conditions of ageing workers to prevent mental health-related implications. Workplace interventions should aim to reduce work environment influences on infection risk and mental distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilah Rinsky-Halivni
- Takemi Program in International Health, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard University T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Braun School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shuli Brammli-Greenberg
- Braun School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - David C Christiani
- Environmental Health, Harvard University T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Modji KKS, Morris CR, Creswell PD, McCoy K, Aiello T, Grajewski B, Tomasallo CD, Pray I, Meiman JG. Lost time: COVID-19 indemnity claim reporting and results in the Wisconsin workers' compensation system from March 12 to December 31, 2020. Am J Ind Med 2022; 65:1006-1021. [PMID: 36282631 PMCID: PMC9828019 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic introduced a new compensable infectious disease to workplaces. METHODS This was a descriptive analysis of Wisconsin COVID workers' compensation (WC) claims between March 12 and December 31, 2020. The impact of the presumption law (March 12 to June 10, 2020) was also evaluated. RESULTS Less than 1% of working-age residents with COVID-19 filed a claim. COVID-19 WC claim rates (per 100,000 FTE) were notably low for frontline industry sectors such as Retail Trade (n = 115), Manufacturing (n = 88), and Wholesale Trade (n = 31). Healthcare workers (764 claims per 100,000 FTE) comprised 73.2% of COVID-19 claims. Most claims (52.8%) were denied and the proportion of denied claims increased significantly after the presumption period for both first responders and other occupations. CONCLUSION The presumption law made benefits accessible primarily to first responders. Further changes to WC systems are needed to offset the individual and collective costs of infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komi K. S. Modji
- Wisconsin Department of Health ServicesMadisonWisconsinUSA,School of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Collin R. Morris
- Wisconsin Department of Health ServicesMadisonWisconsinUSA,School of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Paul D. Creswell
- Wisconsin Department of Health ServicesMadisonWisconsinUSA,School of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Katherine McCoy
- Wisconsin Department of Health ServicesMadisonWisconsinUSA,School of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Tracy Aiello
- Wisconsin Department of Workforce DevelopmentMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | | | - Carrie D. Tomasallo
- Wisconsin Department of Health ServicesMadisonWisconsinUSA,School of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Ian Pray
- Wisconsin Department of Health ServicesMadisonWisconsinUSA,Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Jonathan G. Meiman
- Wisconsin Department of Health ServicesMadisonWisconsinUSA,School of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWisconsinUSA
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Laskaris Z, Hirschtick JL, Xie Y, McKane P, Fleischer NL. COVID-19 in the workplace: Self-reported source of exposure and availability of personal protective equipment by industry and occupation in Michigan. Am J Ind Med 2022; 65:994-1005. [PMID: 36151779 PMCID: PMC9538823 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Fragmented industry and occupation surveillance data throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has left public health practitioners and organizations with an insufficient understanding of high-risk worker groups and the role of work in SARS-CoV-2 transmission. METHODS We drew sequential probability samples of noninstitutionalized adults (18+) in the Michigan Disease Surveillance System with COVID-19 onset before November 16, 2020 (N = 237,468). Among the 6000 selected, 1839 completed a survey between June 23, 2020, and April 23, 2021. We compared in-person work status, source of self-reported SARS-CoV-2 exposure, and availability of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) by industry and occupation using weighted descriptive statistics and Rao-Scott χ2 tests. We identified industries with a disproportionate share of COVID-19 infections by comparing our sample with the total share of employment by industry in Michigan using 2020 data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. RESULTS Employed respondents (n = 1244) were predominantly female (53.1%), aged 44 and under (54.4%), and non-Hispanic White (64.0%). 30.4% of all employed respondents reported work as the source of their SARS-CoV-2 exposure and 78.8% were in-person workers. Work-related exposure was prevalent in Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (65.2%); Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (63.3%); and Food Manufacturing (57.5%). By occupation, work-related exposure was highest among Protective Services (57.9%), Healthcare Support (56.5%), and Healthcare Practitioners (51.9%). Food Manufacturing; Nursing and Residential Care; and Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities were most likely to report having adequate PPE "never" or "rarely" (36.4%, 27.9%, and 26.7%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Workplaces were a key source of self-reported SARS-CoV-2 exposure among employed Michigan residents during the first year of the pandemic. To prevent transmission, there is an urgent need in public health surveillance for the collection of industry and occupation data of people infected with COVID-19, as well as for future airborne infectious diseases for which we have little understanding of risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoey Laskaris
- Department of EpidemiologyUniversity of Michigan School of Public HealthAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Jana L. Hirschtick
- Department of EpidemiologyUniversity of Michigan School of Public HealthAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Yanmei Xie
- Department of EpidemiologyUniversity of Michigan School of Public HealthAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Patricia McKane
- Michigan Department of Health and Human ServicesLifecourse Epidemiology and Genomics DivisionLansingMichiganUSA
| | - Nancy L. Fleischer
- Department of EpidemiologyUniversity of Michigan School of Public HealthAnn ArborMichiganUSA
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Kabbashi M, Khairy A, Mohamed A, Abuobaida D, Malik E. The proportion and determinants of COVID-19 infection among medical doctors in Sudan, 2020: A cross-sectional survey. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0268037. [PMID: 36331915 PMCID: PMC9635736 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, frontline health care providers are among the most affected population group by the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowing the factors contributing to the transmission of COVID-19 infection among frontline health care providers is essential for implementing tailored control measures and protecting this vital population group. This study aimed to estimate the proportion and to identify factors associated with COVID-19 infection among medical doctors in Sudan. A web-based survey was used to collect data from medical doctors who were working in Sudan during the study period. Data were analyzed using SPSS® version 25; Descriptive analysis in terms of means (SD) for continuous variables, frequencies, and percentages with 95% CI for the categorical variable was conducted. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression for associations between the outcome variables (risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection and ever tested positive for COVID-19 infection) and independent variables (socio-demographic and infection control standards) were also performed. Out of 352 valid responses, 13.6% had tested positive for COVID-19 infection at least once during the pandemic. More than one-third have identified colleagues as the main sources of infection compared to 21% of patients (p-value < 0.04). Doctors who received training on COVID-19 were 60% less likely to have positive tests for COVID-19 (p-value <0.03), while lack of PPE and hand hygiene utilities had no statistically significant associations with testing positive for COVID-19 infection. In conclusion, a significant proportion of doctors have contracted COVID-19 infection from their colleagues. This calls for restricting infection control practices at hospitals, doctor’s doormats, and any other shared places that allow day-to-day interaction between doctors and their colleagues. Also, urgent need for training doctors on COVID-19 infection control practices as it has been identified as the key protective factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maan Kabbashi
- Head of Quality Department, Central Ambulance Administration, General Directorate of Curative Medicine, Khartoum State Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
- * E-mail:
| | - Amna Khairy
- Expanded Program of Immunization, Maternal and Child Health Directorate, Directorate General of Primary Health Care, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Amal Mohamed
- Head of Maternal Deaths Surveillance and Response Unit, National Reproductive Health Program, Mother and Child Health Directorate, General Directorate of Primary Health Care, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Duha Abuobaida
- Malaria and NTDs Unit, Case Management Department, Diseases Control Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Elfatih Malik
- Faculty of Medicine Community Medicine Department, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
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Steege AL, Luckhaupt SE, Guerin RJ, Okun AH, Hung MC, Syamlal G, Lu PJ, Santibanez TA, Groenewold MR, Billock R, Singleton JA, Sweeney MH. Characteristics Associated With a Previous COVID-19 Diagnosis, Vaccine Uptake, and Intention to Be Vaccinated Among Essential Workers in the US Household Pulse Survey. Am J Public Health 2022; 112:1599-1610. [PMID: 36223572 PMCID: PMC9558205 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2022.307010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Objectives. To explore previous COVID-19 diagnosis and COVID-19 vaccination status among US essential worker groups. Methods. We analyzed the US Census Household Pulse Survey (May 26-July 5, 2021), a nationally representative sample of adults aged 18 years and older. We compared currently employed essential workers working outside the home with those working at home using adjusted prevalence ratios. We calculated proportion vaccinated and intention to be vaccinated, stratifying by essential worker and demographic groups for those who worked or volunteered outside the home since January 1, 2021. Results. The proportion of workers with previous COVID-19 diagnosis was highest among first responders (24.9%) working outside the home compared with workers who did not (13.3%). Workers in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting had the lowest vaccination rates (67.5%) compared with all workers (77.8%). Those without health insurance were much less likely to be vaccinated across all worker groups. Conclusions. This study underscores the importance of improving surveillance to monitor COVID-19 and other infectious diseases among workers and identify and implement tailored risk mitigation strategies, including vaccination campaigns, for workplaces. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(11):1599-1610. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307010).
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L Steege
- At the time of this study, all of the authors were with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, GA
| | - Sara E Luckhaupt
- At the time of this study, all of the authors were with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, GA
| | - Rebecca J Guerin
- At the time of this study, all of the authors were with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, GA
| | - Andrea H Okun
- At the time of this study, all of the authors were with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, GA
| | - Mei-Chuan Hung
- At the time of this study, all of the authors were with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, GA
| | - Girija Syamlal
- At the time of this study, all of the authors were with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, GA
| | - Peng-Jun Lu
- At the time of this study, all of the authors were with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, GA
| | - Tammy A Santibanez
- At the time of this study, all of the authors were with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, GA
| | - Matthew R Groenewold
- At the time of this study, all of the authors were with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, GA
| | - Rachael Billock
- At the time of this study, all of the authors were with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, GA
| | - James A Singleton
- At the time of this study, all of the authors were with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, GA
| | - Marie Haring Sweeney
- At the time of this study, all of the authors were with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, GA
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Moe AMG, Eriksen MB, Schjølberg T, Haugen F. SARS-CoV-2 serological findings and exposure risk among employees in school and retail after first and second wave COVID-19 pandemic in Oslo, Norway: a cohort study. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2022; 35:537-547. [PMID: 35770786 PMCID: PMC10464784 DOI: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective was to characterize and compare SARS-CoV-2 serology among Norwegian school employees and retail employees, and describe preventive measures taken at the workplaces. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cohort of 238 school and retail employees was enrolled to an ambidirectional cohort study after the first COVID-19 pandemic wave. Self-reported exposure history and serum samples were collected at 10 schools and 15 retail stores in Oslo, Norway, sampled at 2 time-points: baseline (May-July 2020); and follow-up (January-March 2021). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies targeting both spike and nucleocapsid were detected by multiplex microsphere-based serological methods. RESULTS At baseline, 6 enrolled workers (5 in retail) presented with positive SARS-CoV-2 serology, higher than the expected 1% prevalence (3%, 95% CI: 1-6, p = 0.019). At followup, school and retail groups presented 11 new seropositive cases altogether, but groups were not significantly different, although exposure and preventive measures against viral transmission at workplaces were different between groups. Self-reported medical history of COVID-19 infection showed that all but one positive SARS-CoV-2 serological findings arising between baseline and follow-up had been diagnosed with virus testing. CONCLUSIONS Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 positive serology after the first wave was slightly higher than expected. Distribution of infection was not significantly different between the groups at baseline nor at follow-up, despite difference in exposure and protective measures. Nearly all new seropositive cases discovered between baseline and follow-up, had already been diagnosed, highlighting the importance of extensive viral testing among workers. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(5):537-47.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Fred Haugen
- National Institute of Occupational Health STAMI, Oslo, Norway
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41
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Rosengren A, Lundberg CE, Söderberg M, Santosa A, Edqvist J, Lindgren M, Åberg M, Gisslén M, Robertson J, Cronie O, Sattar N, Lagergren J, Brandén M, Björk J, Adiels M. Severe COVID-19 in people 55 and older during the first year of the pandemic in Sweden. J Intern Med 2022; 292:641-653. [PMID: 35612518 PMCID: PMC9348046 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to many contacts is the main risk factor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, while risk of serious disease and death is chiefly determined by old age and comorbidities. Relative and population-attributable fractions (PAFs) of multiple medical and social exposures for COVID-19 outcomes have not been evaluated among older adults. OBJECTIVES We describe the effect of multiple exposures on the odds of testing positive for the virus and of severe disease (hospital care or death) and PAFs in Swedish citizens aged 55 years and above. METHODS We used national registers to follow all citizens aged 55 years and above with respect to (1) testing positive, (2) hospitalization, and (3) death between 31 January 2020 and 1 February 2021. RESULTS Of 3,410,241 persons, 156,017 (4.6%, mean age 68.3 years) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, while 35,999 (1.1%, mean age 76.7 years) were hospitalized or died (12,384 deaths, 0.4%, mean age 84.0 years). Among the total cohort, the proportion living without home care or long-term care was 98.8% among persons aged 55-64 and 22.1% of those aged 95 and above. After multiple adjustment, home care and long-term care were associated with odds ratios of 7.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.8-9.1) and 22.5 (95% CI 19.6-25.7) for mortality, with PAFs of 21.9% (95% CI 20.9-22.9) and 33.3% (95% CI 32.4-34.3), respectively. CONCLUSION Among Swedish residents aged 55 years and above, those with home care or long-term care had markedly increased risk for COVID-19 death during the first year of the pandemic, with over 50% of deaths attributable to these factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Rosengren
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Region Västra Götaland, Department of Medicine, Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Östra Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christina E Lundberg
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mia Söderberg
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ailiana Santosa
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jon Edqvist
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Martin Lindgren
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Region Västra Götaland, Department of Medicine, Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Östra Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Maria Åberg
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Region Västra Götaland, Regionhälsan, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Magnus Gisslén
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Josefina Robertson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ottmar Cronie
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Naveed Sattar
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jesper Lagergren
- Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Brandén
- Stockholm University Demography Unit (SUDA), Department of Sociology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Institute for Analytical Sociology (IAS), Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Jonas Björk
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Clinical Studies Sweden, Forum South, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Martin Adiels
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Cummings KJ, Materna BL, Vergara X, Beckman J, Espineli C, Harrison R. COVID-19 in the Workplace: The View from California. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2022; 19:1260-1264. [PMID: 35289735 PMCID: PMC9353959 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.202112-1334vp] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin J. Cummings
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California
| | - Barbara L. Materna
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California
| | - Ximena Vergara
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California
- Heluna Health, City of Industry, California; and
| | - John Beckman
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, California
| | - Carolina Espineli
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, California
| | - Robert Harrison
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California
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Lee H, Andrasfay T, Riley A, Wu Q, Crimmins E. Do social determinants of health explain racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 infection? Soc Sci Med 2022; 306:115098. [PMID: 35759973 PMCID: PMC9162789 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Racial/ethnic minorities have experienced higher COVID-19 infection rates than whites, but it is unclear how individual-level housing, occupational, behavioral, and socioeconomic conditions contribute to these disparities in a nationally representative sample. In this study, we assess the extent to which social determinants of health contribute to racial/ethnic differences in COVID-19 infection. Data are from the Understanding America Study's Understanding Coronavirus in America survey (UAS COVID-19 waves 7-29). UAS COVID-19 is one of the only nationally representative longitudinal data sources that collects information on household, work, and social behavioral context during the pandemic. We analyze onset of COVID-19 cases, defined as a positive test or a diagnosis of COVID-19 from a healthcare provider since the previous survey wave, over a year of follow-up (June 2020-July 2021). We consider educational attainment, economic resources, work arrangements, household size, and social distancing as key social factors that may be structured by racism. Cox hazard models indicate that Hispanic people have 48% higher risk of experiencing a COVID-19 infection than whites after adjustment for age, sex, local infection rate, and comorbidities, but we do not observe a higher risk of COVID-19 among Black respondents. Controlling for engagement in any large or small social gathering increases the hazard ratio for Hispanics by 9%, suggesting that had Hispanics had the same social engagement patterns as whites, they may have had even higher risk of COVID-19. Other social determinants-lower educational attainment, working away from home, and number of coresidents-all independently predict higher risk of COVID-19, but do not explain why Hispanic Americans have higher COVID-19 infection risk than whites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haena Lee
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Theresa Andrasfay
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alicia Riley
- Department of Sociology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Qiao Wu
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Eileen Crimmins
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Examining the Influence of Housing Conditions and Daily Greenspace Exposure on People’s Perceived COVID-19 Risk and Distress. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148876. [PMID: 35886727 PMCID: PMC9321234 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Many people have worried about COVID-19 infection, job loss, income reduction, and family conflict during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some social groups may be particularly vulnerable due to their residential neighborhoods and daily activities. On the other hand, people’s daily exposure to greenspace offers promising pathways for reducing these worries associated with COVID-19. Using data collected with a questionnaire and a two-day activity diary from two typical neighborhoods in Hong Kong, this study examines how people’s housing conditions and daily greenspace exposure affect their perceived COVID-19 risk and distress (i.e., worries about job loss, income reduction, and family conflict) during the pandemic. First, the study compares people’s perceived COVID-19 risk and distress based on their residential neighborhoods. Further, it examines the associations between people’s perceived COVID-19 risk and distress with their housing conditions and daily greenspace exposure using ordinal logistic regression models. The results indicate that living in a high-risk neighborhood, being married, renting a residential unit, and living in a large household are significantly associated with a higher neighborhood-based perceived COVID-19 risk and distress during the pandemic. In addition, people also reported lower mobility-based perceived COVID-19 risk when compared to their neighborhood-based perceived COVID-19 risk, while they still have a high perceived COVID-19 risk in their occupational venues if they have to work in a high-risk district (e.g., Kowloon). Lastly, daily greenspace exposure (i.e., woodland) could reduce people’s perceived COVID-19 risk and distress. These results have important implications for the public health authority when formulating the measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Henneberger PK, Cox‐Ganser JM, Guthrie GM, Groth CP. Estimates of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in major occupational groups and detailed occupational categories in the United States, April-May 2021. Am J Ind Med 2022; 65:525-536. [PMID: 35587657 PMCID: PMC9348117 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Background While other studies have reported estimates of COVID‐19 vaccine uptake by broad occupational group, little is known about vaccine uptake by detailed occupational category. Methods Data on COVID‐19 vaccination were provided by US adults ages ≥18 years old who responded to the Facebook/Delphi Group COVID‐19 Trends and Impact Survey (Delphi US CTIS) in April–May 2021, reported working for pay in the past 4 weeks, and answered questions about their COVID‐19 vaccine status. Percentages of occupational groups reporting having had at least one COVID‐19 vaccination were weighted to resemble the US general population and calculated for 23 major occupational groups and 120 detailed occupational categories in 15 major groups. Results COVID‐19 vaccine uptake for all 828,401 working adult respondents was 73.6%. Uptake varied considerably across the 23 major occupational groups, from 45.7% for Construction and Extraction to 87.9% for Education, Training, and Library. Percentage vaccinated was also very low for Installation, Maintenance, and Repair at 52.1% and Farming, Fishing, and Forestry at 53.9%. Among the 120 detailed occupational categories, the highest percentage vaccinated was 93.9% for Postsecondary Teacher and the three lowest values were 39.1% for Any Extraction Worker in Oil, Gas, Mining, or Quarrying; 40.1% for Vehicle or Mobile Equipment Mechanic, Installer, or Repairer; and 42.0% for Any Construction Trades Worker. Conclusion Low vaccination percentages were seen in many US occupations by the end of May 2021, early in the period of widespread availability of vaccines for adults. These findings could help inform the deployment of occupation‐specific vaccinepromotion activities during future viral epidemics and pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul K. Henneberger
- Respiratory Health Division National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morgantown West Virginia USA
| | - Jean M. Cox‐Ganser
- Respiratory Health Division National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morgantown West Virginia USA
| | - Garret M. Guthrie
- Respiratory Health Division National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morgantown West Virginia USA
| | - Caroline P. Groth
- Department of Biostatistics West Virginia University School of Public Health Morgantown West Virginia USA
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Free H, Luckhaupt SE, Billock RM, Groenewold MR, Burrer S, Sweeney MH, Wong J, Gibb K, Rodriguez A, Vergara X, Cummings K, Lavender A, Argueta G, Crawford HL, Erukunuapor K, Karlsson ND, Armenti K, Thomas H, Gaetz K, Dang G, Harduar-Morano L, Modji K. Reported Exposures Among In-Person Workers With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection in 6 States, September 2020-June 2021. Clin Infect Dis 2022; 75:S216-S224. [PMID: 35717638 PMCID: PMC9214180 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surveillance systems lack detailed occupational exposure information from workers with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health partnered with 6 states to collect information from adults diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection who worked in person (outside the home) in non-healthcare settings during the 2 weeks prior to illness onset. METHODS The survey captured demographic, medical, and occupational characteristics and work- and non-work-related risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Reported close contact with a person known or suspected to have SARS-CoV-2 infection was categorized by setting as exposure at work, exposure outside of work only, or no known exposure/did not know. Frequencies and percentages of exposure types are compared by respondent characteristics and risk factors. RESULTS Of 1111 respondents, 19.4% reported exposure at work, 23.4% reported exposure outside of work only, and 57.2% reported no known exposure/did not know. Workers in protective service occupations (48.8%) and public administration industries (35.6%) reported exposure at work most often. More than one third (33.7%) of respondents who experienced close contact with ≥10 coworkers per day and 28.8% of respondents who experienced close contact with ≥10 customers/clients per day reported exposures at work. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to occupational SARS-CoV-2 was common among respondents. Examining differences in exposures among different worker groups can help identify populations with the greatest need for prevention interventions. The benefits of recording employment characteristics as standard demographic information will remain relevant as new and reemerging public health issues occur.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara E Luckhaupt
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Rachael M Billock
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Matthew R Groenewold
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Sherry Burrer
- Emergency Preparedness and Response Office, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Marie Haring Sweeney
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hannah Thomas
- New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
| | - Kim Gaetz
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
| | - Gialana Dang
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services,Western States Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Laurel Harduar-Morano
- Pennsylvania Department of Health,Division of State and Local Readiness, Center for Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody detection among healthcare workers and hospital staff of a university hospital in Colombia. IJID REGIONS 2022; 3:150-156. [PMID: 35720138 PMCID: PMC8942465 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2022.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among hospital workers in a Colombian university hospital was low. The presence of antibodies against the virus was high among healthcare workers. Some professions showed a higher chance of being SARS-CoV-2 seropositive.
Objective The aim of this study was to determine current and previous SARS-COV-2 infection, and describe risk factors associated with seropositivity, among HCWs and hospital staff between June and October of 2020. Methodology Data from the day of enrollment for a prospective cohort study were analyzed to determine point prevalence and seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs and hospital staff of a university hospital in Colombia. Respiratory samples were collected to perform RT-PCR tests, along with blood samples to measure SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies. Data on nosocomial and community risk factors for infection were also collected and analyzed. Findings 420 HCWs and hospital staff members were included. The seroprevalence at baseline was 23.2%, of which 10.7% had only IgM antibodies, 0.7% had IgG, and 11.7% had IgM and IgG. The prevalence of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection was 1.9%. Being a nurse assistant was significantly associated with seropositivity when compared with all other job duties (PR 2.39, 95% CI 1.27–3.65, p = 0.01). Conclusions Overall SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was 1.9% and seroprevalence was 23.15%. Nurse assistants, medical doctors or students, and laboratory workers had a higher possibility of being SARS-CoV-2 seropositive.
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Buchan SA, Smith PM, Warren C, Murti M, Mustard C, Kim JH, Menon S, Brown KA, van Ingen T, Smith BT. Incidence of outbreak-associated COVID-19 cases by industry in Ontario, Canada, 1 April 2020-31 March 2021. Occup Environ Med 2022; 79:403-411. [PMID: 35022260 PMCID: PMC8764709 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2021-107879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of our study was to estimate the rate of workplace outbreak-associated cases of COVID-19 by industry in labour market participants aged 15-69 years who reported working the majority of hours outside the home in Ontario, Canada. METHODS We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of COVID-19 workplace outbreaks and associated cases reported in Ontario between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. All outbreaks were manually classified into two-digit North American Industry Classification System codes. We obtained monthly denominator estimates from the Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey to estimate the incidence of outbreak-associated cases per 100 000 000 hours among individuals who reported the majority of hours were worked outside the home. We performed this analysis across industries and in three distinct time periods. RESULTS Overall, 12% of cases were attributed to workplace outbreaks among working-age adults across our study period. While incidence varied across the time periods, the five industries with the highest incidence rates across our study period were agriculture, healthcare and social assistance, food manufacturing, educational services, and transportation and warehousing. CONCLUSIONS Certain industries have consistently increased the incidence of COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic. These results may assist in ongoing efforts to reduce transmission of COVID-19 by prioritising resources, as well as industry-specific guidance, vaccination and public health messaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Buchan
- Health Protection, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter M Smith
- Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christine Warren
- Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michelle Murti
- Health Protection, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Clinical Public Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cameron Mustard
- Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jin Hee Kim
- Clinical Public Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Environmental and Occupational Health, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sandya Menon
- Health Protection, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kevin A Brown
- Health Protection, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Trevor van Ingen
- Analytic Services, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brendan T Smith
- Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Attributes of Long Duration COVID-19 Workers’ Compensation Claims. J Occup Environ Med 2022; 64:e327-e332. [DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Cummings KJ, Beckman J, Frederick M, Harrison R, Nguyen A, Snyder R, Chan E, Gibb K, Rodriguez A, Wong J, Murray EL, Jain S, Vergara X. Disparities in COVID-19 fatalities among working Californians. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266058. [PMID: 35349589 PMCID: PMC8963556 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information on U.S. COVID-19 mortality rates by occupation is limited. We aimed to characterize 2020 COVID-19 fatalities among working Californians to inform preventive strategies. METHODS We identified laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 fatalities with dates of death in 2020 by matching death certificates to the state's COVID-19 case registry. Working status for decedents aged 18-64 years was determined from state employment records, death certificates, and case registry data and classified as "confirmed working," "likely working," or "not working." We calculated age-adjusted overall and occupation-specific COVID-19 mortality rates using 2019 American Community Survey denominators. RESULTS COVID-19 accounted for 8,050 (9.9%) of 81,468 fatalities among Californians 18-64 years old. Of these decedents, 2,486 (30.9%) were matched to state employment records and classified as "confirmed working." The remainder were classified as "likely working" (n = 4,121 [51.2%]) or "not working" (n = 1,443 [17.9%]) using death certificate and case registry data. Confirmed and likely working COVID-19 decedents were predominantly male (76.3%), Latino (68.7%), and foreign-born (59.6%), with high school or less education (67.9%); 7.8% were Black. The overall age-adjusted COVID-19 mortality rate was 30.0 per 100,000 workers (95% confidence interval [CI], 29.3-30.8). Workers in nine occupational groups had age-adjusted mortality rates higher than this overall rate, including those in farming (78.0; 95% CI, 68.7-88.2); material moving (77.8; 95% CI, 70.2-85.9); construction (62.4; 95% CI, 57.7-67.4); production (60.2; 95% CI, 55.7-65.0); and transportation (57.2; 95% CI, 52.2-62.5) occupations. While occupational differences in mortality were evident across demographic groups, mortality rates were three-fold higher for male compared with female workers and three- to seven-fold higher for Latino and Black workers compared with Asian and White workers. CONCLUSION Californians in manual labor and in-person service occupations experienced disproportionate COVID-19 mortality, with the highest rates observed among male, Latino, and Black workers; these occupational group should be prioritized for prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin J. Cummings
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
| | - John Beckman
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA, United States of America
| | - Matthew Frederick
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA, United States of America
| | - Robert Harrison
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
| | - Alyssa Nguyen
- Infectious Diseases Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
| | - Robert Snyder
- Infectious Diseases Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
| | - Elena Chan
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA, United States of America
| | - Kathryn Gibb
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA, United States of America
| | - Andrea Rodriguez
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA, United States of America
| | - Jessie Wong
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA, United States of America
| | - Erin L. Murray
- Immunization Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
| | - Seema Jain
- Infectious Diseases Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
| | - Ximena Vergara
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States of America
- Heluna Health, City of Industry, CA, United States of America
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