Associations between an international COVID-19 job exposure matrix and SARS-CoV-2 infection among 2 million workers in Denmark

Sophie van der Feltz; Vivi Schlünssen; Ioannis Basinas; Luise M Begtrup; Alex Burdorf; Jens P E Bonde; Esben M Flachs; Susan Peters; Anjoeka Pronk; Zara A Stokholm; Martie van Tongeren; Karin van Veldhoven; Karen M Oude Hengel; Henrik A Kolstad

doi:10.5271/sjweh.4099

Associations between an international COVID-19 job exposure matrix and SARS-CoV-2 infection among 2 million workers in Denmark

Sophie van der Feltz^*, Vivi Schlünssen, Ioannis Basinas, Luise M Begtrup, Alex Burdorf, Jens P E Bonde, Esben M Flachs, Susan Peters, Anjoeka Pronk, Zara A Stokholm, Martie van Tongeren, Karin van Veldhoven, Karen M Oude Hengel, Henrik A Kolstad

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the associations between the Danish version of a job exposure matrix for COVID-19 (COVID-19-JEM) and Danish register-based SARS-CoV-2 infection information across three waves of the pandemic. The COVID-19-JEM consists of four dimensions on transmission: two on mitigation measures, and two on precarious work characteristics.

METHODS: The study comprised 2 021 309 persons from the Danish working population between 26 February 2020 and 15 December 2021. Logistic regression models were applied to assess the associations between the JEM dimensions and overall score and SARS-CoV-2 infection across three infection waves, with peaks in March-April 2020, December-January 2021, and February-March 2022. Sex, age, household income, country of birth, wave, residential region and during wave 3 vaccination status were accounted for.

RESULTS: Higher risk scores within the transmission and mitigation dimensions and the overall JEM score resulted in higher odds ratios (OR) of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. OR attenuated across the three waves with ranges of 1.08-5.09 in wave 1, 1.06-1.60 in wave 2, and 1.05-1.45 in those not (fully) vaccinated in wave 3. In wave 3, no associations were found for those fully vaccinated. In all waves, the two precarious work dimensions showed weaker or inversed associations.

CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19-JEM is a promising tool for assessing occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other airborne infectious agents that mainly spread between people who are in close contact with each other. However, its usefulness depends on applied restrictions and the vaccination status in the population of interest.

Original language	English
Article number	4099
Journal	Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
Volume	49
Issue	6
Pages (from-to)	375-385
Number of pages	11
ISSN	0355-3140
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4099
Publication status	Published - Sept 2023

Keywords

coronavirus
infection waves
JEM
occupational exposure
SARS-Cov-2 exposure
Key terms coronavirus
Denmark/epidemiology
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19/epidemiology
Humans
Occupational Exposure
Logistic Models

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10.5271/sjweh.4099Licence: CC BY

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van der Feltz, S., Schlünssen, V., Basinas, I., Begtrup, L. M., Burdorf, A., Bonde, J. P. E., Flachs, E. M., Peters, S., Pronk, A., Stokholm, Z. A., van Tongeren, M., van Veldhoven, K., Oude Hengel, K. M., & Kolstad, H. A. (2023). Associations between an international COVID-19 job exposure matrix and SARS-CoV-2 infection among 2 million workers in Denmark. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 49(6), 375-385. Article 4099. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4099

@article{f7006b53269d45d2b7fe009ebcabde4a,

title = "Associations between an international COVID-19 job exposure matrix and SARS-CoV-2 infection among 2 million workers in Denmark",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the associations between the Danish version of a job exposure matrix for COVID-19 (COVID-19-JEM) and Danish register-based SARS-CoV-2 infection information across three waves of the pandemic. The COVID-19-JEM consists of four dimensions on transmission: two on mitigation measures, and two on precarious work characteristics.METHODS: The study comprised 2 021 309 persons from the Danish working population between 26 February 2020 and 15 December 2021. Logistic regression models were applied to assess the associations between the JEM dimensions and overall score and SARS-CoV-2 infection across three infection waves, with peaks in March-April 2020, December-January 2021, and February-March 2022. Sex, age, household income, country of birth, wave, residential region and during wave 3 vaccination status were accounted for.RESULTS: Higher risk scores within the transmission and mitigation dimensions and the overall JEM score resulted in higher odds ratios (OR) of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. OR attenuated across the three waves with ranges of 1.08-5.09 in wave 1, 1.06-1.60 in wave 2, and 1.05-1.45 in those not (fully) vaccinated in wave 3. In wave 3, no associations were found for those fully vaccinated. In all waves, the two precarious work dimensions showed weaker or inversed associations.CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19-JEM is a promising tool for assessing occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other airborne infectious agents that mainly spread between people who are in close contact with each other. However, its usefulness depends on applied restrictions and the vaccination status in the population of interest.",

keywords = "coronavirus, infection waves, JEM, occupational exposure, SARS-Cov-2 exposure, Key terms coronavirus, Denmark/epidemiology, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19/epidemiology, Humans, Occupational Exposure, Logistic Models",

author = "{van der Feltz}, Sophie and Vivi Schl{\"u}nssen and Ioannis Basinas and Begtrup, {Luise M} and Alex Burdorf and Bonde, {Jens P E} and Flachs, {Esben M} and Susan Peters and Anjoeka Pronk and Stokholm, {Zara A} and {van Tongeren}, Martie and {van Veldhoven}, Karin and {Oude Hengel}, {Karen M} and Kolstad, {Henrik A}",

year = "2023",

month = sep,

doi = "10.5271/sjweh.4099",

language = "English",

volume = "49",

pages = "375--385",

journal = "Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health",

issn = "0355-3140",

publisher = "Tyoterveyslaitos",

number = "6",

}

van der Feltz, S, Schlünssen, V, Basinas, I, Begtrup, LM, Burdorf, A, Bonde, JPE, Flachs, EM, Peters, S, Pronk, A, Stokholm, ZA, van Tongeren, M, van Veldhoven, K, Oude Hengel, KM & Kolstad, HA 2023, 'Associations between an international COVID-19 job exposure matrix and SARS-CoV-2 infection among 2 million workers in Denmark', Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, vol. 49, no. 6, 4099, pp. 375-385. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4099

Associations between an international COVID-19 job exposure matrix and SARS-CoV-2 infection among 2 million workers in Denmark. / van der Feltz, Sophie; Schlünssen, Vivi; Basinas, Ioannis et al.
In: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, Vol. 49, No. 6, 4099, 09.2023, p. 375-385.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Associations between an international COVID-19 job exposure matrix and SARS-CoV-2 infection among 2 million workers in Denmark

AU - van der Feltz, Sophie

AU - Schlünssen, Vivi

AU - Basinas, Ioannis

AU - Begtrup, Luise M

AU - Burdorf, Alex

AU - Bonde, Jens P E

AU - Flachs, Esben M

AU - Peters, Susan

AU - Pronk, Anjoeka

AU - Stokholm, Zara A

AU - van Tongeren, Martie

AU - van Veldhoven, Karin

AU - Oude Hengel, Karen M

AU - Kolstad, Henrik A

PY - 2023/9

Y1 - 2023/9

N2 - OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the associations between the Danish version of a job exposure matrix for COVID-19 (COVID-19-JEM) and Danish register-based SARS-CoV-2 infection information across three waves of the pandemic. The COVID-19-JEM consists of four dimensions on transmission: two on mitigation measures, and two on precarious work characteristics.METHODS: The study comprised 2 021 309 persons from the Danish working population between 26 February 2020 and 15 December 2021. Logistic regression models were applied to assess the associations between the JEM dimensions and overall score and SARS-CoV-2 infection across three infection waves, with peaks in March-April 2020, December-January 2021, and February-March 2022. Sex, age, household income, country of birth, wave, residential region and during wave 3 vaccination status were accounted for.RESULTS: Higher risk scores within the transmission and mitigation dimensions and the overall JEM score resulted in higher odds ratios (OR) of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. OR attenuated across the three waves with ranges of 1.08-5.09 in wave 1, 1.06-1.60 in wave 2, and 1.05-1.45 in those not (fully) vaccinated in wave 3. In wave 3, no associations were found for those fully vaccinated. In all waves, the two precarious work dimensions showed weaker or inversed associations.CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19-JEM is a promising tool for assessing occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other airborne infectious agents that mainly spread between people who are in close contact with each other. However, its usefulness depends on applied restrictions and the vaccination status in the population of interest.

AB - OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the associations between the Danish version of a job exposure matrix for COVID-19 (COVID-19-JEM) and Danish register-based SARS-CoV-2 infection information across three waves of the pandemic. The COVID-19-JEM consists of four dimensions on transmission: two on mitigation measures, and two on precarious work characteristics.METHODS: The study comprised 2 021 309 persons from the Danish working population between 26 February 2020 and 15 December 2021. Logistic regression models were applied to assess the associations between the JEM dimensions and overall score and SARS-CoV-2 infection across three infection waves, with peaks in March-April 2020, December-January 2021, and February-March 2022. Sex, age, household income, country of birth, wave, residential region and during wave 3 vaccination status were accounted for.RESULTS: Higher risk scores within the transmission and mitigation dimensions and the overall JEM score resulted in higher odds ratios (OR) of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. OR attenuated across the three waves with ranges of 1.08-5.09 in wave 1, 1.06-1.60 in wave 2, and 1.05-1.45 in those not (fully) vaccinated in wave 3. In wave 3, no associations were found for those fully vaccinated. In all waves, the two precarious work dimensions showed weaker or inversed associations.CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19-JEM is a promising tool for assessing occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other airborne infectious agents that mainly spread between people who are in close contact with each other. However, its usefulness depends on applied restrictions and the vaccination status in the population of interest.

KW - coronavirus

KW - infection waves

KW - JEM

KW - occupational exposure

KW - SARS-Cov-2 exposure

KW - Key terms coronavirus

KW - Denmark/epidemiology

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - COVID-19/epidemiology

KW - Humans

KW - Occupational Exposure

KW - Logistic Models

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U2 - 10.5271/sjweh.4099

DO - 10.5271/sjweh.4099

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37167299

SN - 0355-3140

VL - 49

SP - 375

EP - 385

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

IS - 6

M1 - 4099

ER -

Associations between an international COVID-19 job exposure matrix and SARS-CoV-2 infection among 2 million workers in Denmark

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