Journal Article Ppublish 1 citation
PubMed: 39392098 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23665
Prevalence of COVID-19 and Long COVID by Industry and Occupation: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2022.
Am J Ind Med 68(1):26-52
Authors: S R Silver, J Li, N D Ford, D Shi, S H Saydah
Affiliations
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Field Studies and Engineering, Health Informatics Branch, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronaviruses and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Epidemiology Branch, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Field Studies and Engineering, Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Workers in healthcare and other essential occupations had elevated risks for COVID-19 infection early in the pandemic. No survey of U.S. workers to date has comprehensively assessed the prevalence of both COVID-19 and Long COVID across industries and occupations (I&O) at a detailed level.
METHODS
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for 2022 from 39 states, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands were used to estimate prevalence of self-reported history of COVID-19 and Long COVID, as well as the prevalence of Long COVID among those reporting prior COVID-19, by broad and detailed I&O. Adjusted prevalence ratios were used to compare outcome prevalence in each I&O to prevalence among all other workers combined.
RESULTS
By broad I&O, workers in healthcare, protective services, and education had elevated prevalences of COVID-19. The prevalence of Long COVID was elevated in healthcare and protective service but not education workers. Detailed I&O with significantly elevated prevalences of COVID-19 but not Long COVID included Dairy Product Manufacturing industry workers and subsets of mining workers. Both COVID-19 and Long COVID were elevated among bartenders/drinking places and personal care and appearance workers. The prevalence of Long COVID was elevated among farmworkers who reported having had COVID-19.
CONCLUSIONS
Industries and occupations with elevated levels of COVID-19 or Long COVID in this study may warrant increased measures to prevent transmission of airborne respiratory viruses. Accommodations are a key component for supporting workers in all workplaces. This new information about the distribution of Long COVID by I&O suggests where employer understanding and implementation of tailored workplace supports and accommodations are most needed to support continued employment of affected workers.
MeSH
Unemployment, Occupational Medicine, Employment, Covid-19, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Occupations, Education, Workplace, Post-Acute Covid-19 Syndrome