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Occupational risk of COVID-19 across pandemic waves: a two-year national follow-up study of hospital admissions

Bonde, Jens Peter Ellekilde ; Sell, Lea ; Jensen, Johan ; Molenberg Begtrup, Luise ; Meulengracht Flachs, Esben ; Jakobsson, Kristina ; Nielsen, Christel LU orcid ; Nilsson, Kerstin LU orcid ; Rylander, Lars LU orcid and Petersen, Kajsa Ugelvig , et al. (2022) In Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health 48(8). p.672-677
Abstract
Objective: Assuming that preventive measures to mitigate viral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at the workplace may have been improved in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, we examined the occupational risk of COVID-19 related hospital admission across the four pandemic waves in Denmark between week 8, 2020, and week 50, 2021.

Methods: The study included 4416 cases of COVID-19 related hospital admissions among 2.4 million Danish employees aged 20-69 with follow-up in 2020 through 2021. At-risk industrial sectors and a reference population were defined a priory by a job-exposure matrix on occupational risk for COVID-19. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) and potential effect modification by pandemic wave were computed with Poisson regression... (More)
Objective: Assuming that preventive measures to mitigate viral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at the workplace may have been improved in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, we examined the occupational risk of COVID-19 related hospital admission across the four pandemic waves in Denmark between week 8, 2020, and week 50, 2021.

Methods: The study included 4416 cases of COVID-19 related hospital admissions among 2.4 million Danish employees aged 20-69 with follow-up in 2020 through 2021. At-risk industrial sectors and a reference population were defined a priory by a job-exposure matrix on occupational risk for COVID-19. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) and potential effect modification by pandemic wave were computed with Poisson regression adjusted for demographic, social and health factors including completed COVID-19 vaccination.

Results: We observed an overall elevated relative risk in four of six at-risk industrial sectors, but the pandemic wave only modified the risk among healthcare employees, where the excess risk from a high initial level declined to background levels during the latest waves in models not adjusting for COVID-19 vaccination. In social care, education and transport, the elevated risk was not modified by pandemic wave.

Conclusion: Danish healthcare employees were to some extent protected against occupational transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during the two last pandemic waves even though the absolute risk conferred by occupation may not have been eliminated. Early vaccination of this group seems not to be the only explanation. The risk in other sectors remained elevated indicating a need to revisit preventive measures. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
volume
48
issue
8
pages
672 - 677
publisher
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
external identifiers
  • scopus:85140828894
  • pmid:36107639
ISSN
0355-3140
DOI
10.5271/sjweh.4056
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c67f55ad-1128-43b2-a638-9a0ab1c1bf6f
date added to LUP
2022-10-24 09:23:23
date last changed
2023-01-24 03:00:09
@article{c67f55ad-1128-43b2-a638-9a0ab1c1bf6f,
  abstract     = {{Objective: Assuming that preventive measures to mitigate viral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at the workplace may have been improved in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, we examined the occupational risk of COVID-19 related hospital admission across the four pandemic waves in Denmark between week 8, 2020, and week 50, 2021.<br/><br/>Methods: The study included 4416 cases of COVID-19 related hospital admissions among 2.4 million Danish employees aged 20-69 with follow-up in 2020 through 2021. At-risk industrial sectors and a reference population were defined a priory by a job-exposure matrix on occupational risk for COVID-19. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) and potential effect modification by pandemic wave were computed with Poisson regression adjusted for demographic, social and health factors including completed COVID-19 vaccination.<br/><br/>Results: We observed an overall elevated relative risk in four of six at-risk industrial sectors, but the pandemic wave only modified the risk among healthcare employees, where the excess risk from a high initial level declined to background levels during the latest waves in models not adjusting for COVID-19 vaccination. In social care, education and transport, the elevated risk was not modified by pandemic wave.<br/><br/>Conclusion: Danish healthcare employees were to some extent protected against occupational transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during the two last pandemic waves even though the absolute risk conferred by occupation may not have been eliminated. Early vaccination of this group seems not to be the only explanation. The risk in other sectors remained elevated indicating a need to revisit preventive measures.}},
  author       = {{Bonde, Jens Peter Ellekilde and Sell, Lea and Jensen, Johan and Molenberg Begtrup, Luise and Meulengracht Flachs, Esben and Jakobsson, Kristina and Nielsen, Christel and Nilsson, Kerstin and Rylander, Lars and Petersen, Kajsa Ugelvig and Töttenborg, Sandra Sögaard}},
  issn         = {{0355-3140}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{8}},
  pages        = {{672--677}},
  publisher    = {{Finnish Institute of Occupational Health}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health}},
  title        = {{Occupational risk of COVID-19 across pandemic waves: a two-year national follow-up study of hospital admissions}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4056}},
  doi          = {{10.5271/sjweh.4056}},
  volume       = {{48}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}