Differential Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Occupation: Evidence from the Virus Watch prospective cohort study in England and Wales

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundWorkers differ in their risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection according to their occupation, but the direct contribution of occupation to this relationship is unclear. This study aimed to investigate how infection risk differed across occupational groups in England and Wales up to October 2021, after adjustment for potential confounding and stratification by pandemic phase.MethodsData from 12,182 employed/self-employed participants in the Virus Watch prospective cohort study were used to generate risk ratios for virologically- or serologically-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection using robust Poisson regression, adjusting for socio-demographic and health-related factors and non-work public activities. We calculated attributable fractions (AF) amongst the exposed for each occupational group based on adjusted risk ratios (aRR).FindingsIncreased risk was seen in nurses (aRR=1.90 [1.40-2.40], AF=47%); doctors (1.74 [1.26-2.40], 42%); carers (2.18 [1.63-2.92], 54%); teachers (primary = 1.94 [1.44-2.61], 48%; secondary =1.64, [1.23-2.17], 39%), and warehouse and process/plant workers (1.58 [1.20-2.09], 37%) compared to both office-based professional occupations (reported above) and all other occupations. Differential risk was apparent in the earlier phases (Feb 2020 - May 2021) and attenuated later (June - October 2021) for most groups, although teachers demonstrated persistently elevated risk.InterpretationOccupational differentials in SARS-CoV-2 infection risk are robust to adjustment for socio-demographic, health-related, and activity-related potential confounders. Patterns of differential infection risk varied over time, and ongoing excess risk was observed in education professionals. Direct investigation into workplace factors underlying elevated risk and how these change over time is needed to inform occupational health interventions.