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Occupation and SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among 108 960 workers during the first pandemic wave in Germany

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the occupational risk for a SARS-CoV-2 infection in a nationwide sample of German workers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (1 February–31 August 2020). Methods: We used the data of 108 960 workers who participated in a COVID follow-up su...

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Main Authors: Reuter, Marvin Alexander (Author) , Rigó, Mariann (Author) , Formazin, Maren (Author) , Liebers, Falk (Author) , Latza, Ute (Author) , Castell, Stefanie (Author) , Jöckel, Karl-Heinz (Author) , Greiser, Karin Halina (Author) , Michels, Karin (Author) , Krause, Gérard (Author) , Albrecht, Stefan (Author) , Öztürk, Ilter (Author) , Kuss, Oliver (Author) , Berger, Klaus (Author) , Lampl, Benedikt MJ (Author) , Leitzmann, Michael (Author) , Zeeb, Hajo (Author) , Starke, Karla Romero (Author) , Schipf, Sabine (Author) , Meinke-Franze, Claudia (Author) , Ahrens, Wolfgang (Author) , Seidler, Andreas (Author) , Klee, Bianca (Author) , Pischon, Tobias (Author) , Andreas Deckert, Andreas Deckert (Author) , Schmidt, Börge (Author) , Mikolajczyk, Rafael (Author) , Karch, André (Author) , Bohn, Barbara (Author) , Brenner, Hermann (Author) , Holleczek, Bernd (Author) , Dragano, Nico (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 07 Jun 2022
In: Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health
Year: 2022, Volume: 48, Issue: 6, Pages: 446-456
ISSN:1795-990X
DOI:10.5271/sjweh.4037
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://dx.doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4037
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Author Notes:Marvin Reuter, Mariann Rigó, Maren Formazin, Falk Liebers, Ute Latza, Stefanie Castell, Karl-Heinz Jöckel, Karin Halina Greiser, Karin B. Michels, Gérard Krause, Stefan Albrecht, Ilter Öztürk, Oliver Kuss, Klaus Berger, Benedikt MJ Lampl, Michael Leitzmann, Hajo Zeeb, Karla Romero Starke, Sabine Schipf, Claudia Meinke-Franze, Wolfgang Ahrens, Andreas Seidler, Bianca Klee, Tobias Pischon, Andreas Deckert Andreas Deckert, Börge Schmidt, Rafael Mikolajczyk, André Karch, Barbara Bohn, Hermann Brenner, Bernd Holleczek, Nico Dragano
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Summary:Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the occupational risk for a SARS-CoV-2 infection in a nationwide sample of German workers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (1 February–31 August 2020). Methods: We used the data of 108 960 workers who participated in a COVID follow-up survey of the German National Cohort (NAKO). Occupational characteristics were derived from the German Classification of Occupations 2010 (Klassifikation der Berufe 2010). PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections were assessed from self-reports. Incidence rates (IR) and incidence rate ratios (IRR) were estimated using robust Poisson regression, adjusted for person-time at risk, age, sex, migration background, study center, working hours, and employment relationship. Results: The IR was 3.7 infections per 1000 workers [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.3–4.1]. IR differed by occupational sector, with the highest rates observed in personal (IR 4.8, 95% CI 4.0–5.6) and business administration (IR 3.4, 95% CI 2.8–3.9) services and the lowest rates in occupations related to the production of goods (IR 2.0, 95% CI 1.5–2.6). Infections were more frequent among essential workers compared with workers in non-essential occupations (IRR 1.95, 95% CI 1.59–2.40) and among highly skilled compared with skilled professions (IRR 1.36, 95% CI 1.07–1.72). Conclusions: The results emphasize higher infection risks in essential occupations and personal-related services, especially in the healthcare sector. Additionally, we found evidence that infections were more common in higher occupational status positions at the beginning of the pandemic.
Item Description:Gesehen am 24.01.2023
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1795-990X
DOI:10.5271/sjweh.4037

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