Kromydas, T., Demou, E. , Edge, R., Gittins, M., Katikireddi, S. V. , Pearce, N., van Tongeren, M., Wilkinson, J. and Rhodes, S. (2023) Occupational differences in the prevalence and severity of long-COVID: analysis of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 80(10), pp. 545-552. (doi: 10.1136/oemed-2023-108930) (PMID:37770179) (PMCID:PMC7615205)
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Abstract
Objectives: To establish whether prevalence and severity of long-COVID symptoms vary by industry and occupation. Methods: We used Office for National Statistics COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS) data (February 2021–April 2022) of working-age participants (16–65 years). Exposures were industry, occupation and major Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) group. Outcomes were self-reported: (1) long-COVID symptoms and (2) reduced function due to long-COVID. Binary (outcome 1) and ordered (outcome 2) logistic regression were used to estimate odds ratios (OR)and prevalence (marginal means). Results: Public facing industries, including teaching and education, social care, healthcare, civil service, retail and transport industries and occupations, had the highest likelihood of long-COVID. By major SOC group, those in caring, leisure and other services (OR 1.44, 95% CIs 1.38 to 1.52) had substantially elevated odds than average. For almost all exposures, the pattern of ORs for long-COVID symptoms followed SARS-CoV-2 infections, except for professional occupations (eg, some healthcare, education, scientific occupations) (infection: OR<1 ; long-COVID: OR>1). The probability of reporting long-COVID for industry ranged from 7.7% (financial services) to 11.6% (teaching and education); whereas the prevalence of reduced function by ‘a lot’ ranged from 17.1% (arts, entertainment and recreation) to 22%–23% (teaching and education and armed forces) and to 27% (not working). Conclusions: The risk and prevalence of long-COVID differs across industries and occupations. Generally, it appears that likelihood of developing long-COVID symptoms follows likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection, except for professional occupations. These findings highlight sectors and occupations where further research is needed to understand the occupational factors resulting in long-COVID.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Funding from the ONS (ONS Ref PU-22-0205). MG, NP, MvT, JW and SR acknowledge funding through the National Core Study ’PROTECT’ programme, managed by the Health and Safety Executive on behalf of HM Government. TK, ED and SVK acknowledge funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC; MC_UU_00022/2) and the Chief Scientist Office (CSO; SPHSU17). SVK also acknowledges funding from a European Research Council (949582) grant and the National Core Study ’Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing’ programme (MC_ PC_20030). |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Katikireddi, Professor Vittal and Demou, Dr Evangelia and Kromydas, Dr Theocharis |
| Authors: | Kromydas, T., Demou, E., Edge, R., Gittins, M., Katikireddi, S. V., Pearce, N., van Tongeren, M., Wilkinson, J., and Rhodes, S. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU |
| Journal Name: | Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
| Publisher: | BMJ Publishing Group |
| ISSN: | 1351-0711 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1470-7926 |
| Published Online: | 28 September 2023 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2023 The Author(s) |
| First Published: | First published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine 80(10):545-552 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons license |
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