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COVID-19-related hospital admission in spouses of partners in at-risk occupations

Bonde, Jens Peter Ellekilde ; Begtrup, Luise Mølenberg ; Coggon, David ; Jensen, Johan Høy ; Flachs, Esben Meulengracht ; Jakobsson, Kristina ; Nielsen, Christel LU orcid ; Nilsson, Kerstin LU orcid ; Rylander, Lars LU orcid and Vilhelmsson, Andreas LU orcid , et al. (2023) In Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health 49(3). p.193-200
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to quantify the risk of COVID-19-related hospital admission in spouses living with partners in at-risk occupations in Denmark during 2020-21.

METHODS: Within a registry-based cohort of all Danish employees (N=2 451 542), we identified cohabiting couples, in which at least one member (spouse) held a job that according to a job exposure matrix entailed low risk of occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (N=192 807 employees, 316 COVID-19 hospital admissions). Risk of COVID-19-related hospital admission in such spouses was assessed according to whether their partners were in jobs with low-, intermediate- or high-risk for infection. Overall and sex-specific incidence rate ratios (IRR) of COVID-19-related... (More)

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to quantify the risk of COVID-19-related hospital admission in spouses living with partners in at-risk occupations in Denmark during 2020-21.

METHODS: Within a registry-based cohort of all Danish employees (N=2 451 542), we identified cohabiting couples, in which at least one member (spouse) held a job that according to a job exposure matrix entailed low risk of occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (N=192 807 employees, 316 COVID-19 hospital admissions). Risk of COVID-19-related hospital admission in such spouses was assessed according to whether their partners were in jobs with low-, intermediate- or high-risk for infection. Overall and sex-specific incidence rate ratios (IRR) of COVID-19-related hospital admission were computed by Poisson regression with adjustment for relevant covariates.

RESULTS: The risk of COVID-19-related hospital admission was increased among spouses with partners in high-risk occupations [adjusted IRR (IRR
adj)1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.2], but not intermediate-risk occupations (IRR
adj 0.97 95% 0.8-1.3). IRR for having a partner in a high-risk job were elevated during the first three pandemic waves but not in the fourth (IRR
adj 0.48 95% CI 0.2-1.5). Sex did not modify the risk of hospital admission.

CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 transmission at the workplace may pose an increased risk of severe COVID-19 among spouses in low-risk jobs living with partners in high-risk jobs, which emphasizes the need for preventive measures at the workplace in future outbreaks of epidemic contagious disease. When available, effective vaccines seem essential.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
volume
49
issue
3
pages
193 - 200
publisher
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
external identifiers
  • scopus:85151574772
  • pmid:36749944
ISSN
0355-3140
DOI
10.5271/sjweh.4080
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6cefa1a8-779c-4735-986b-cd7087ed9a1d
date added to LUP
2023-02-11 09:09:15
date last changed
2024-04-05 17:53:48
@article{6cefa1a8-779c-4735-986b-cd7087ed9a1d,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to quantify the risk of COVID-19-related hospital admission in spouses living with partners in at-risk occupations in Denmark during 2020-21.</p><p>METHODS: Within a registry-based cohort of all Danish employees (N=2 451 542), we identified cohabiting couples, in which at least one member (spouse) held a job that according to a job exposure matrix entailed low risk of occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (N=192 807 employees, 316 COVID-19 hospital admissions). Risk of COVID-19-related hospital admission in such spouses was assessed according to whether their partners were in jobs with low-, intermediate- or high-risk for infection. Overall and sex-specific incidence rate ratios (IRR) of COVID-19-related hospital admission were computed by Poisson regression with adjustment for relevant covariates.</p><p>RESULTS: The risk of COVID-19-related hospital admission was increased among spouses with partners in high-risk occupations [adjusted IRR (IRR<br>
 adj)1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.2], but not intermediate-risk occupations (IRR<br>
 adj 0.97 95% 0.8-1.3). IRR for having a partner in a high-risk job were elevated during the first three pandemic waves but not in the fourth (IRR<br>
 adj 0.48 95% CI 0.2-1.5). Sex did not modify the risk of hospital admission.<br>
 </p><p>CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 transmission at the workplace may pose an increased risk of severe COVID-19 among spouses in low-risk jobs living with partners in high-risk jobs, which emphasizes the need for preventive measures at the workplace in future outbreaks of epidemic contagious disease. When available, effective vaccines seem essential.</p>}},
  author       = {{Bonde, Jens Peter Ellekilde and Begtrup, Luise Mølenberg and Coggon, David and Jensen, Johan Høy and Flachs, Esben Meulengracht and Jakobsson, Kristina and Nielsen, Christel and Nilsson, Kerstin and Rylander, Lars and Vilhelmsson, Andreas and Petersen, Kajsa Ugelvig and Tøttenborg, Sandra Søgaard}},
  issn         = {{0355-3140}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{193--200}},
  publisher    = {{Finnish Institute of Occupational Health}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health}},
  title        = {{COVID-19-related hospital admission in spouses of partners in at-risk occupations}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4080}},
  doi          = {{10.5271/sjweh.4080}},
  volume       = {{49}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}