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Smith PM, Liao Q, Shahidi F, Biswas A, Robson LS, Landsman V, Mustard C. Variation in occupational exposure risk for COVID-19 workers' compensation claims across pandemic waves in Ontario. Occup Environ Med 2024; 81:171-177. [PMID: 38316515 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2023-109243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To understand rates of work-related COVID-19 (WR-C19) infection by occupational exposures across waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada. METHODS We combined workers' compensation claims for COVID-19 with data from Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey, to estimate rates of WR-C19 among workers spending the majority of their working time at the workplace between 1 April 2020 and 30 April 2022. Occupational exposures, imputed using a job exposure matrix, were whether the occupation was public facing, proximity to others at work, location of work and a summary measure of low, medium and high occupational exposure. Negative binomial regression models examined the relationship between occupational exposures and risk of WR-C19, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS Trends in rates of WR-C19 differed from overall COVID-19 cases among the working-aged population. All occupational exposures were associated with increased risk of WR-C19, with risk ratios for medium and high summary exposures being 1.30 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.55) and 2.46 (95% CI 2.10 to 2.88), respectively, in fully adjusted models. The magnitude of associations between occupational exposures and risk of WR-C19 differed across waves of the pandemic, being weakest for most exposures in period March 2021 to June 2021, and highest at the start of the pandemic and during the Omicron wave (December 2021 to April 2022). CONCLUSIONS Occupational exposures were consistently associated with increased risk of WR-C19, although the magnitude of this relationship differed across pandemic waves in Ontario. Preparation for future pandemics should consider more accurate reporting of WR-C19 infections and the potential dynamic nature of occupational exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Smith
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Qing Liao
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Faraz Shahidi
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Grunnill M, Arino J, McCarthy Z, Bragazzi NL, Coudeville L, Thommes EW, Amiche A, Ghasemi A, Bourouiba L, Tofighi M, Asgary A, Baky-Haskuee M, Wu J. Modelling disease mitigation at mass gatherings: A case study of COVID-19 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1011018. [PMID: 38236838 PMCID: PMC10796029 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The 2022 FIFA World Cup was the first major multi-continental sporting Mass Gathering Event (MGE) of the post COVID-19 era to allow foreign spectators. Such large-scale MGEs can potentially lead to outbreaks of infectious disease and contribute to the global dissemination of such pathogens. Here we adapt previous work and create a generalisable model framework for assessing the use of disease control strategies at such events, in terms of reducing infections and hospitalisations. This framework utilises a combination of meta-populations based on clusters of people and their vaccination status, Ordinary Differential Equation integration between fixed time events, and Latin Hypercube sampling. We use the FIFA 2022 World Cup as a case study for this framework (modelling each match as independent 7 day MGEs). Pre-travel screenings of visitors were found to have little effect in reducing COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations. With pre-match screenings of spectators and match staff being more effective. Rapid Antigen (RA) screenings 0.5 days before match day performed similarly to RT-PCR screenings 1.5 days before match day. Combinations of pre-travel and pre-match testing led to improvements. However, a policy of ensuring that all visitors had a COVID-19 vaccination (second or booster dose) within a few months before departure proved to be much more efficacious. The State of Qatar abandoned all COVID-19 related travel testing and vaccination requirements over the period of the World Cup. Our work suggests that the State of Qatar may have been correct in abandoning the pre-travel testing of visitors. However, there was a spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations within Qatar over the World Cup. Given our findings and the spike in cases, we suggest a policy requiring visitors to have had a recent COVID-19 vaccination should have been in place to reduce cases and hospitalisations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Grunnill
- Laboratory of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julien Arino
- Department of Mathematics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Zachary McCarthy
- Laboratory of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
- Laboratory of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Edward W. Thommes
- Modeling, Epidemiology and Data Science (MEDS), Sanofi, Lyon, France
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Abbas Ghasemi
- The Fluid Dynamics of Disease Transmission Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lydia Bourouiba
- The Fluid Dynamics of Disease Transmission Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mohammadali Tofighi
- Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, York University, Toronto, Canada
- Disaster & Emergency Management, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ali Asgary
- Disaster & Emergency Management, York University, Toronto, Canada
- York Emergency Mitigation, Response, Engagement and Governance Institute, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Jianhong Wu
- Laboratory of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- York Emergency Mitigation, Response, Engagement and Governance Institute, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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3
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Laskaris Z, Markowitz SB. Why presumptions are important in occupational health: The example of COVID-19 infection as an occupational disease. Am J Ind Med 2024; 67:3-9. [PMID: 37837415 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Workers who become ill or injured on the job while undertaking extraordinary risks on behalf of the public are, at times, granted facilitated access to workers' compensation (WC) benefits through the application of presumptions in the compensation process. Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a broad range of occupational groups faced an elevated risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure at work to perform vital services to maintain our food supply, sustain needed transportation, provide health care, assure energy supply and others. Some states or jurisdictions in the United States recognized both the risk and the service of these workers by enacting COVID-19 presumption laws to streamline selected essential workers' eligibility for WC benefits. Other states did not. Results of these contrasting public approaches permit an examination of the impact of presumptions in compensation by examining the frequency and outcomes of COVID-19 claims in "COVID-19 presumption" and "nonpresumption" states. Despite state-level variations in economic response to the pandemic, industry mix, and presumption eligibility criteria, the use of COVID-19 presumptions appears to have substantially increased claim filing rates and improved access to benefits. Lastly, the additional costs of COVID-19 claims to employers and insurers were lower than initially predicted. In response to future airborne infectious disease outbreaks, workers' compensation presumption laws should be universally implemented to permit a broad range of high-risk workers to work on the public's behalf without fear of losing wages and incurring medical expenses associated with a work-related viral exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoey Laskaris
- Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment, Queens College, City University of New York, Queens, New York, USA
| | - Steven B Markowitz
- Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment, Queens College, City University of New York, Queens, New York, USA
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Boccuni F, Rondinone BM, Buresti G, Brusco A, Bucciarelli A, D'Amario S, Persechino B, Iavicoli S, Marinaccio A. Covid-19 Occupational Risk Incidence and Working Sectors Involved During the Pandemic in Italy. Saf Health Work 2023; 14:398-405. [PMID: 38187213 PMCID: PMC10770278 DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2023.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Starting from March 2020 until December 2021, different phases of Covid-19 pandemic have been identified in Italy, with several containing/lifting measures progressively enforced by the National government. In the present study, we investigate the change in occupational risk during the subsequent pandemic phases and we propose an estimate of the incidence of the cases by economic sector, based on the analysis of insurance claims for compensation for Covid-19. Methods Covid-19 epidemiological data available for the general population and injury claims of workers covered by the Italian public insurance system in 2020-2021 were analyzed. Monthly Incidence Rate of Covid-19 compensation claims per 100,000 workers (MIRw) was calculated by the economic sector and compared with the same indicator for general population in different pandemic periods. Results The distribution of Covid-19 MIRw by sector significantly changed during the pandemic related to both the strength of different waves and the mitigation/lifting strategies enforced. The level of occupational fraction was very high at the beginning phase of the pandemic, decreasing to 5% at the end of 2021. Healthcare and related services were continuously hit but the incidence was significantly decreasing in 2021 in all sectors, except for postal and courier activities in transportation and storage enterprises. Conclusion The analysis of compensation claim data allowed to identify time trends for infection risk in different working sectors. The claim rates were highest for human health and social work activities but the distribution of risk among sectors was clearly influenced by the different stages of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Boccuni
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - Bruna M. Rondinone
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuliana Buresti
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - Adelina Brusco
- Statistical Department, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Bucciarelli
- Statistical Department, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia D'Amario
- Statistical Department, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Rome, Italy
| | - Benedetta Persechino
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Iavicoli
- Directorate-General for Communication and European and International Relations, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marinaccio
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
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Kelsall HL, Di Donato MF, McGuinness SL, Collie A, Zhong S, Eades O, Sim MR, Leder K. Workers' compensation claims for COVID-19 among workers in healthcare and other industries during 2020-2022, Victoria, Australia. Occup Environ Med 2023; 80:667-673. [PMID: 37932037 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2023-108982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify and characterise COVID-19 workers' compensation claims in healthcare and other industries during the pandemic in Victoria, Australia. METHODS We used workers' compensation claims identified as COVID-19 infection related from 1 January 2020 to 31 July 2022 to compare COVID-19 infection claims and rates of claims by industry and occupation, and in relation to Victorian COVID-19 epidemiology. A Cox proportional hazards model assessed risk factors for extended claim duration. RESULTS Of the 3313 direct and indirect COVID-19-related claims identified, 1492 (45.0%) were classified as direct COVID-19 infection accepted time-loss claims and were included in analyses. More than half (52.9%) of COVID-19 infection claims were made by healthcare and social assistance industry workers, with claims for this group peaking in July-October 2020. The overall rate of claims was greater in the healthcare and social assistance industry compared with all other industries (16.9 vs 2.4 per 10 000 employed persons) but industry-specific rates were highest in public administration and safety (23.0 per 10 000 employed persons). Workers in healthcare and social assistance were at increased risk of longer incapacity duration (median 26 days, IQR 16-61 days) than in other industries (median 17 days, IQR 11-39.5 days). CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 infection claims differed by industry, occupational group, severity and timing and changes coincided with different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Occupational surveillance for COVID-19 cases is important and monitoring of worker's compensation claims and incapacity duration can contribute to understanding the impacts of COVID-19 on work absence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Louise Kelsall
- Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael F Di Donato
- Healthy Working Lives Research Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah L McGuinness
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- The Alfred Hospital Travel Medicine Clinic, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alex Collie
- Healthy Working Lives Research Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shannon Zhong
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Owen Eades
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Malcolm Ross Sim
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Karin Leder
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Nam MW, Chung J, Park S, Lee W, Park J, Koh DH, Choi S, Park JH, Park DU. Characteristics of workers' compensation claim applications for COVID-19 infections in South Korea. Ind Health 2023; 61:78-87. [PMID: 35173135 PMCID: PMC9902263 DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2021-0271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify the major industries and jobs with the highest proportion of workers' compensation (WC) claims for COVID-19, characterize COVID-19 WC claims in terms of their demographic properties and disease severity, and identify factors influencing the approval of COVID-19 WC claims as occupational disease. A total of 488 workers who submitted COVID-19-related claims to the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (KWCWS) from January 2020 to July 2021 were analyzed. A Fisher's exact test was employed to associate the severity of COVID-19 infection with demographic properties. The highest proportion of all COVID-19 WC claims compensated as occupational disease (N=462) were submitted by healthcare workers (HCW=233, 50%), while only 9% (N=41) of the total originated from manufacturing industries. The 5% (N=26) of the COVID-19 WC claims accepted were evaluated as severe (N=15) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (N=9). A total of 71% (N=329) of the COVID-19 patients compensated (N=462) were from workplaces with infection clusters. A total of 26 WC cases were rejected for various reasons, including unclear infection routes, infection at private gatherings (including within families), no diagnosis, and more. Given our findings, we suggest an official system should be established to detect and compensate more job-associated infectious diseases like COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Woo Nam
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinjoo Chung
- Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyoung Park
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | - Woncheol Lee
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihoon Park
- Joint Inter-agency Chemical Emergency Preparedness Center of Ulsan, Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Hee Koh
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, International St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangjun Choi
- Graduate School of Public Health and Healthcare Management, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Hyun Park
- Department of Statistics, Dongguk University, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Uk Park
- Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University, Republic of Korea
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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: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Wei CF, Lan FY, Hsu YT, Lowery N, Dibona L, Akkeh R, Kales SN, Yang J. Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Essential Workers in a Community-Based Cohort in the United States. Front Public Health 2022; 10:878208. [PMID: 35677773 PMCID: PMC9169416 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.878208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The objective of this paper is to identify the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection that are related to occupation type as well as workplace conditions. Identifying such risk factors could have noteworthy implications in workplace safety enhancement and emergency preparedness planning for essential workers. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of visits at a community-based SARS-CoV-2 testing site in the greater Boston area between March 18th and June 19th, 2020, for individuals between 14 and 65 years of age. Nasopharyngeal swab specimen, medical review, and self-administered questionnaire were obtained, and SARS-CoV-2 infection was determined with real-time, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Medical record-verified job classification, customer-facing, and work patterns were extracted from each individual's response through chart review and validated by licensed clinicians. The occupational patterns were coded by occupational medicine physicians with pre-specified criteria and were analyzed with logistic regression and inverse probability weighting. Results Among the 780 individuals included in the final analysis, working in healthcare-related jobs was associated with a four-fold increase in risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (Adjusted OR: 4.00, 95% CI: 1.45–11.02). Individuals with customer-facing jobs had a two times risk increase (Adjusted OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.12–3.45) in having a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay result compared to participants with non-customer facing positions. Conclusions In this U.S. community-based population during the initial wave of the pandemic, a significant increase in risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was observed in those employed in the healthcare sector or with customer-facing positions. Further research is warranted to determine if these correlations continued with the buildup of population immunity together with the attenuation of SARS-CoV-2 virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Fu Wei
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Fan-Yun Lan
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Occupational Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Yu-Tien Hsu
- Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nina Lowery
- Manet Community Health Center, Quincy, MA, United States
| | - Lauren Dibona
- Manet Community Health Center, Quincy, MA, United States
| | - Ream Akkeh
- Manet Community Health Center, Quincy, MA, United States
| | - Stefanos N Kales
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Occupational Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Justin Yang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.,Manet Community Health Center, Quincy, MA, United States.,Department of Employee and Occupational Health, Atrius Health, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
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Bernacki EJ, Hunt DL, Tsourmas NF, Yuspeh L, Lavin RA, Kalia N, Leung N, Willams L, Green-mckenzie J, Tao X(. 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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10
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Forst
- School of Public Health
- University of Illinois Chicago
- Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kenneth Rosenman
- College of Medicine
- Michigan State University
- E. Lansing, Michigan
| | - Glenn Shor
- School of Public Health
- University of California Berkeley
- Berkeley, California
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Nienhaus A. COVID-19 among Health Workers in Germany-An Update. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:ijerph18179185. [PMID: 34501773 PMCID: PMC8431697 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
This is an update of our report on COVID-19 among health and social welfare workers in Germany. Workers' compensation claims for occupational diseases (OD) are recorded in a standardized database of the Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW). We analyzed which workers in the health and welfare sector are most often affected by COVID-19. For the different sectors in healthcare and welfare, the number of full-time workers is known (FTW), allowing for calculation of claim rates by sector. The period for data presentation was extended to 3 May 2021 for this update. The cumulative number of COVID-19 claims increased from 4398 by May 2020 to 84,728 by May 2021. The majority of claims concern nursing homes (39.5%) and hospitals (37.6%). Nursing is the profession most often concerned (68.8%). Relative to the number of workers, the claim rate is highest for hospitals (41.3/1000 FTW). Seventy-seven workers died (0.09%) and three hundred and seventy-five (0.4%) were hospitalized. A total of 65,693 (77.5%) claims were assessed, and for 81.4% of these claims, the OD was confirmed. The number of health and welfare workers affected by COVID-19 is high. With most HW vaccinated by now in Germany, within the next few weeks or months, the number of new cases should decrease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Nienhaus
- Competence Center for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20246 Hamburg, Germany; ; Tel.: +49-40-20207-3220
- Department for Occupational Medicine, Hazardous Substances and Health Sciences (AGG), Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW), 22089 Hamburg, Germany
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