tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Am J Ind Med
. 2023 Dec 4.
doi: 10.1002/ajim.23552. Online ahead of print. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among US blood donors by industry, May-December 2021
Dallas S Shi[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Emily McDonald[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Melisa Shah[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Matthew R Groenewold[SUP] 1 [/SUP], James M Haynes[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Bryan R Spencer[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Susan Stramer[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Leora R Feldstein[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Sharon Saydah[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jefferson Jones[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Sophia K Chiu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jessica L Rinsky[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Work is a social determinant of health that is often overlooked. There are major work-related differences in the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and death, but there have been few analyses of infection rates across industry groups. To date, only one national assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence by industry based on self-report has been completed. No study has looked at seroprevalence of COVID-19 by industry.
Methods: During May-December 2021, blood donors with SARS-CoV-2 antinucleocapsid testing were sent an electronic survey about their work. Free-text industry responses were classified using the North American Industry Classification System. We estimated seroprevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of SARS-CoV-2 infection by industry.
Results: Of 57,726 donors, 7040 (12%, 95% CI: 11.9%-12.5%) had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Seroprevalence was highest among Accommodation & Food Services (19.3%, 95% CI: 17.1%-21.6%), Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (19.2%, 95% CI: 12.8%-27.8%), Healthcare & Social Assistance (15.6%, 95% CI: 14.9%-16.4%), and Construction (14.7%, 95% CI: 13.1%-16.3%). Seroprevalence was lowest among Management of Companies & Enterprises (6.5%, 95% CI: 3.5%-11.5%), Professional Scientific & Technical Services (8.4%, 95% CI: 7.7%-9.0%), and Information (9.9%, 95% CI: 8.5%-11.5%).
Conclusions: While workers in all industries had serologic evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, certain sectors were disproportionately impacted. Disease surveillance systems should routinely collect work characteristics so public health and industry leaders can address health disparities using sector-specific policies.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; blood donors; industry; seroprevalence; work.
. 2023 Dec 4.
doi: 10.1002/ajim.23552. Online ahead of print. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among US blood donors by industry, May-December 2021
Dallas S Shi[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Emily McDonald[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Melisa Shah[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Matthew R Groenewold[SUP] 1 [/SUP], James M Haynes[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Bryan R Spencer[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Susan Stramer[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Leora R Feldstein[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Sharon Saydah[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jefferson Jones[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Sophia K Chiu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jessica L Rinsky[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 38047323
- DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23552
Background: Work is a social determinant of health that is often overlooked. There are major work-related differences in the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and death, but there have been few analyses of infection rates across industry groups. To date, only one national assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence by industry based on self-report has been completed. No study has looked at seroprevalence of COVID-19 by industry.
Methods: During May-December 2021, blood donors with SARS-CoV-2 antinucleocapsid testing were sent an electronic survey about their work. Free-text industry responses were classified using the North American Industry Classification System. We estimated seroprevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of SARS-CoV-2 infection by industry.
Results: Of 57,726 donors, 7040 (12%, 95% CI: 11.9%-12.5%) had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Seroprevalence was highest among Accommodation & Food Services (19.3%, 95% CI: 17.1%-21.6%), Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (19.2%, 95% CI: 12.8%-27.8%), Healthcare & Social Assistance (15.6%, 95% CI: 14.9%-16.4%), and Construction (14.7%, 95% CI: 13.1%-16.3%). Seroprevalence was lowest among Management of Companies & Enterprises (6.5%, 95% CI: 3.5%-11.5%), Professional Scientific & Technical Services (8.4%, 95% CI: 7.7%-9.0%), and Information (9.9%, 95% CI: 8.5%-11.5%).
Conclusions: While workers in all industries had serologic evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, certain sectors were disproportionately impacted. Disease surveillance systems should routinely collect work characteristics so public health and industry leaders can address health disparities using sector-specific policies.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; blood donors; industry; seroprevalence; work.