Occupational risks of COVID-19: a case-cohort study using health insurance claims data in Germany
Abstract Background Studies on occupation and COVID-19 infection that cover a range of occupational groups and adjust for important confounders are lacking. This study aimed to estimate occupational risks of hospitalization with COVID-19 by taking into account sociodemographic factors and previous c...
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BMC
2024-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20706-3 |
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| author | Karla Romero Starke René Mauer Janice Hegewald Ulrich Bolm-Audorff Gabriela Brückner Katrin Schüssel Helmut Schröder Andreas Seidler |
| author_facet | Karla Romero Starke René Mauer Janice Hegewald Ulrich Bolm-Audorff Gabriela Brückner Katrin Schüssel Helmut Schröder Andreas Seidler |
| author_sort | Karla Romero Starke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Studies on occupation and COVID-19 infection that cover a range of occupational groups and adjust for important confounders are lacking. This study aimed to estimate occupational risks of hospitalization with COVID-19 by taking into account sociodemographic factors and previous comorbidities. Methods We applied a case-cohort design using workers insured with one of Germany’s largest statutory health insurers as a data source for occupational and demographical information as well as for information on comorbidities. Cox regression models with denominator weights for cases and controls assessed relative risks of hospitalization with COVID-19 in 2020. Results The study consisted of 11,202 COVID-19 cases and 249,707 non-cases. After adjusting for age, sex, number of pre-existing comorbidities, and socioeconomic status, we found at least doubled risks for occupations in theology and church work (HR = 3.05; 95% CI 1.93–4.82), occupations in healthcare (HR = 2.74; 95% CI 2.46–3.05), for bus and tram divers (HR = 2.46; 95% CI 2.04–2.97), occupations in meat processing (HR = 2.16; 95% CI 1.57–2.98), and professional drivers in passenger transport (e.g. taxi drivers) (HR = 2.00; 95% CI 1.59–2.51). In addition, occupations in property marketing and management, social workers, laboratory workers, occupations in personal care (e.g. hairdressers), occupations in housekeeping and occupations in gastronomy all had statistically significantly increased risks compared to the reference population (administrative workers). Conclusions We identified occupations with increased risks for hospitalization with COVID-19. For those having a doubled risk it can be assumed that COVID-19 diseases are predominantly occupationally related. By identifying high-risk occupations in non-healthcare professions, effective measures to prevent infections in the workplace can be developed, also in case of a future pandemic. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3cd8504b7df846309d0f6cd1d62cb4a3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-3cd8504b7df846309d0f6cd1d62cb4a32025-08-20T02:33:08ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-11-0124111010.1186/s12889-024-20706-3Occupational risks of COVID-19: a case-cohort study using health insurance claims data in GermanyKarla Romero Starke0René Mauer1Janice Hegewald2Ulrich Bolm-Audorff3Gabriela Brückner4Katrin Schüssel5Helmut Schröder6Andreas Seidler7Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität DresdenInstitute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität DresdenInstitute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität DresdenInstitute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität DresdenAOK Research Institute (WIdO)AOK Research Institute (WIdO)AOK Research Institute (WIdO)Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität DresdenAbstract Background Studies on occupation and COVID-19 infection that cover a range of occupational groups and adjust for important confounders are lacking. This study aimed to estimate occupational risks of hospitalization with COVID-19 by taking into account sociodemographic factors and previous comorbidities. Methods We applied a case-cohort design using workers insured with one of Germany’s largest statutory health insurers as a data source for occupational and demographical information as well as for information on comorbidities. Cox regression models with denominator weights for cases and controls assessed relative risks of hospitalization with COVID-19 in 2020. Results The study consisted of 11,202 COVID-19 cases and 249,707 non-cases. After adjusting for age, sex, number of pre-existing comorbidities, and socioeconomic status, we found at least doubled risks for occupations in theology and church work (HR = 3.05; 95% CI 1.93–4.82), occupations in healthcare (HR = 2.74; 95% CI 2.46–3.05), for bus and tram divers (HR = 2.46; 95% CI 2.04–2.97), occupations in meat processing (HR = 2.16; 95% CI 1.57–2.98), and professional drivers in passenger transport (e.g. taxi drivers) (HR = 2.00; 95% CI 1.59–2.51). In addition, occupations in property marketing and management, social workers, laboratory workers, occupations in personal care (e.g. hairdressers), occupations in housekeeping and occupations in gastronomy all had statistically significantly increased risks compared to the reference population (administrative workers). Conclusions We identified occupations with increased risks for hospitalization with COVID-19. For those having a doubled risk it can be assumed that COVID-19 diseases are predominantly occupationally related. By identifying high-risk occupations in non-healthcare professions, effective measures to prevent infections in the workplace can be developed, also in case of a future pandemic.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20706-3SARS-CoV-2COVID-19Hospitalization riskWorkOccupation |
| spellingShingle | Karla Romero Starke René Mauer Janice Hegewald Ulrich Bolm-Audorff Gabriela Brückner Katrin Schüssel Helmut Schröder Andreas Seidler Occupational risks of COVID-19: a case-cohort study using health insurance claims data in Germany BMC Public Health SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Hospitalization risk Work Occupation |
| title | Occupational risks of COVID-19: a case-cohort study using health insurance claims data in Germany |
| title_full | Occupational risks of COVID-19: a case-cohort study using health insurance claims data in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Occupational risks of COVID-19: a case-cohort study using health insurance claims data in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occupational risks of COVID-19: a case-cohort study using health insurance claims data in Germany |
| title_short | Occupational risks of COVID-19: a case-cohort study using health insurance claims data in Germany |
| title_sort | occupational risks of covid 19 a case cohort study using health insurance claims data in germany |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Hospitalization risk Work Occupation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20706-3 |
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