Yuan B, Lan J, Li J. Disparity in Occupational Health Risk During the Pandemic: Potential Misestimation and Its Implications for Health Policies.
J Occup Environ Med 2022;
64:809-814. [PMID:
35673258 PMCID:
PMC9524524 DOI:
10.1097/jom.0000000000002563]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
This study clarifies potential misestimation of occupational risk caused by the dichotomy of frontline essential and nonessential occupations in prior studies.
METHODS
The linear regression is used to investigate the occupational risk in terms of incidence rate, hospitalization, and mortality on community level during the pandemic.
RESULTS
Overall, frontline essential occupations were positively associated with incidence rate, hospitalization, and mortality (156.06, 18.47, and 3.49; P < 0.01). Among essential occupations, however, education, training, and library occupations were negatively associated with them, whereas transportation, protective service, food preparation, and serving occupations were insignificantly associated with them. Moreover, among nonessential occupations, building and grounds cleaning, construction, and extraction occupations were positively associated with them.
CONCLUSION
The dichotomy of frontline essential and nonessential occupations can bring overestimation and underestimation of occupational risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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