Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Meeting abstract › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Meeting abstract › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - 130 Long-COVID by occupation and industry in the UK using the ONS coronavirus infection survey. Does sars-cov-2 infection matter?
AU - Kromydas, Theocharis
AU - Demou, Evangelia
AU - Edge, Rhiannon
AU - Gittins, Matthew
AU - Katikireddi, Srinivasa Vittal
AU - Pearce, Neil
AU - Tongeren, Martie van
AU - Wilkinson, Jack
AU - Rhodes, Sarah
PY - 2025/7/7
Y1 - 2025/7/7
N2 - Objective High prevalence of long-COVID has been reported in the education, social care and healthcare sector. However, differences in prevalence of long-COVID across industries and occupations and whether any differences are beyond those explained by differential risks in SARS-CoV-2 infection have not been investigated.Materials and Methods We utilised ONS Coronavirus Infection Survey (CIS) data (February 2021-April 2022) of working-age participants (16-65 years). The CIS began in April 2020 and aimed to be representative of the UK population. Exposures were industry, occupational group and major Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) group. Outcomes were self-reported long-COVID symptoms and reduced function due to long-COVID. We used the first available observation per industry and occupational exposure and other covariates, assuming no change across time. Binary and ordered logistic regression were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and prevalence (marginal means). Sensitivity analyses were conducted to estimate panel models that allowed for time variation.Results Public facing industries, including teaching and education, social care, healthcare, civil service, retail and transport industries and occupations, and those in caring, leisure and other services SOC group had higher likelihood of long-COVID. Long-COVID prevalence by industry ranged from a low of 7.7% in financial services to a high of 11.6% in teaching and education. Severity (i.e. reduced function by ‘a lot’) ranged from 17.1% in arts, entertainment and recreation to 22-23% in teaching and education and armed forces. OR trends for long-COVID predominantly followed those for SARS-CoV-2 infections, except for professional occupations (ORSARS-CoV-2 <1; ORlong-COVID>1).Conclusions Prevalence of long-COVID differs across industries and occupations. The likelihood of developing long-COVID symptoms mostly follows likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection, except for professional occupations. Our findings highlight industrial sectors and occupations where further research is needed to understand the occupational factors, beyond infection risk, that may result in long-COVID.
AB - Objective High prevalence of long-COVID has been reported in the education, social care and healthcare sector. However, differences in prevalence of long-COVID across industries and occupations and whether any differences are beyond those explained by differential risks in SARS-CoV-2 infection have not been investigated.Materials and Methods We utilised ONS Coronavirus Infection Survey (CIS) data (February 2021-April 2022) of working-age participants (16-65 years). The CIS began in April 2020 and aimed to be representative of the UK population. Exposures were industry, occupational group and major Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) group. Outcomes were self-reported long-COVID symptoms and reduced function due to long-COVID. We used the first available observation per industry and occupational exposure and other covariates, assuming no change across time. Binary and ordered logistic regression were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and prevalence (marginal means). Sensitivity analyses were conducted to estimate panel models that allowed for time variation.Results Public facing industries, including teaching and education, social care, healthcare, civil service, retail and transport industries and occupations, and those in caring, leisure and other services SOC group had higher likelihood of long-COVID. Long-COVID prevalence by industry ranged from a low of 7.7% in financial services to a high of 11.6% in teaching and education. Severity (i.e. reduced function by ‘a lot’) ranged from 17.1% in arts, entertainment and recreation to 22-23% in teaching and education and armed forces. OR trends for long-COVID predominantly followed those for SARS-CoV-2 infections, except for professional occupations (ORSARS-CoV-2 <1; ORlong-COVID>1).Conclusions Prevalence of long-COVID differs across industries and occupations. The likelihood of developing long-COVID symptoms mostly follows likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection, except for professional occupations. Our findings highlight industrial sectors and occupations where further research is needed to understand the occupational factors, beyond infection risk, that may result in long-COVID.
U2 - 10.1136/oemed-2024-epicohabstracts.130
DO - 10.1136/oemed-2024-epicohabstracts.130
M3 - Meeting abstract
VL - 82
SP - A58.1-A58
JO - Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JF - Occupational and Environmental Medicine
SN - 1351-0711
IS - Suppl. 1
T2 - Epidemiology in Occupational Health Early Career Conference (EPICOH 2024)
Y2 - 4 November 2024 through 5 November 2024
ER -