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Occupation and SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence studies: a systematic review
Emily Boucher1, Christian Cao2, Sean D'Mello3
1Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada emily.boucher@ucalgary.ca.
BMJ Open
|February 28, 2023
Summary
This study analyzed SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence across various occupations before vaccine rollout. Personal care and service occupations showed the highest prevalence, highlighting occupational risks during the pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Occupational Health
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Assessing occupational risks for SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial for public health.
- Understanding seroprevalence variations across different job sectors informs targeted interventions.
Approach:
- A systematic review and machine learning classification of 196 studies (January-December 2020) covering 591,940 participants.
- Data extraction included seroprevalence estimates and occupational classifications (Standard Occupational Classification 2010).
- Narrative synthesis was employed due to study heterogeneity.
Key Points:
- Healthcare occupations were most frequently studied, but 'Personal Care and Service Occupations' exhibited the highest median seroprevalence (22%).
- Significant differences in seroprevalence were observed across occupational groups.
- Most studies were local, small in sample size, and at high risk of bias.
Conclusions:
- Numerous occupational seroprevalence studies emerged in the first year of the pandemic.
- While differences between occupations are suggested, a lack of large, high-quality studies limits definitive conclusions.
- Future pandemic preparedness requires well-designed studies on occupational risks of respiratory pathogens.
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