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Differential Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Occupation: Evidence from the Virus Watch prospective cohort study in England and Wales.
Beale, Sarah; Hoskins, Susan; Byrne, Thomas; Fong, Wing Lam Erica; Fragaszy, Ellen; Geismar, Cyril; Kovar, Jana; Navaratnam, Annalan M D; Nguyen, Vincent; Patel, Parth; Yavlinsky, Alexei; Johnson, Anne M; Van Tongeren, Martie; Aldridge, Robert W; Hayward, Andrew.
  • Beale S; Centre for Public Health Data Science, Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, NW1 2DA, UK. sarah.beale.19@ucl.ac.uk.
  • Hoskins S; Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UK. sarah.beale.19@ucl.ac.uk.
  • Byrne T; Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
  • Fong WLE; Centre for Public Health Data Science, Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, NW1 2DA, UK.
  • Fragaszy E; Centre for Public Health Data Science, Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, NW1 2DA, UK.
  • Geismar C; Centre for Public Health Data Science, Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, NW1 2DA, UK.
  • Kovar J; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London, School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
  • Navaratnam AMD; Centre for Public Health Data Science, Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, NW1 2DA, UK.
  • Nguyen V; Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
  • Patel P; Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
  • Yavlinsky A; Centre for Public Health Data Science, Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, NW1 2DA, UK.
  • Johnson AM; Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
  • Van Tongeren M; Centre for Public Health Data Science, Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, NW1 2DA, UK.
  • Aldridge RW; Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
  • Hayward A; Centre for Public Health Data Science, Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, NW1 2DA, UK.
J Occup Med Toxicol ; 18(1): 5, 2023 Apr 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2251573
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Workers across different occupations vary in their risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but the direct contribution of occupation to this relationship is unclear. This study aimed to investigate how infection risk differed across occupational groups in England and Wales up to April 2022, after adjustment for potential confounding and stratification by pandemic phase.

METHODS:

Data from 15,190 employed/self-employed participants in the Virus Watch prospective cohort study were used to generate risk ratios for virologically- or serologically-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection using robust Poisson regression, adjusting for socio-demographic and health-related factors and non-work public activities. We calculated attributable fractions (AF) amongst the exposed for belonging to each occupational group based on adjusted risk ratios (aRR).

RESULTS:

Increased risk was seen in nurses (aRR = 1.44, 1.25-1.65; AF = 30%, 20-39%), doctors (aRR = 1.33, 1.08-1.65; AF = 25%, 7-39%), carers (1.45, 1.19-1.76; AF = 31%, 16-43%), primary school teachers (aRR = 1.67, 1.42- 1.96; AF = 40%, 30-49%), secondary school teachers (aRR = 1.48, 1.26-1.72; AF = 32%, 21-42%), and teaching support occupations (aRR = 1.42, 1.23-1.64; AF = 29%, 18-39%) compared to office-based professional occupations. Differential risk was apparent in the earlier phases (Feb 2020-May 2021) and attenuated later (June-October 2021) for most groups, although teachers and teaching support workers demonstrated persistently elevated risk across waves.

CONCLUSIONS:

Occupational differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection risk vary over time and are robust to adjustment for socio-demographic, health-related, and non-workplace activity-related potential confounders. Direct investigation into workplace factors underlying elevated risk and how these change over time is needed to inform occupational health interventions.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Language: English Journal: J Occup Med Toxicol Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S12995-023-00371-9

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Language: English Journal: J Occup Med Toxicol Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S12995-023-00371-9