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Risk Factors for COVID-19 and Respiratory Tract Infections during the Coronavirus Pandemic
Laurynas Mockeliunas1, Rob C van Wijk1, Caryn M Upton2
1Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
Frontline healthcare workers, especially nurses and doctors with obesity, face higher risks of respiratory infections including COVID-19. Non-smoking healthcare workers are more susceptible to COVID-19, while prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure may offer protection.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Individual susceptibility to respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and COVID-19 varies.
- Identifying risk factors for symptomatic RTIs and COVID-19 is crucial during pandemics.
- Understanding these factors aids in targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors for symptomatic RTIs, including COVID-19.
- To determine risk factors for symptomatic COVID-19 specifically.
- To analyze the impact of participant baseline characteristics and regional disease burden.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 1000 frontline healthcare workers.
- Randomization to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination or placebo.
- Parametric time-to-event analysis to assess risk factors for RTIs+COVID-19 and COVID-19.
Main Results:
- Higher risk of RTIs+COVID-19 associated with being a doctor/nurse, higher COVID-19 burden, and BMI > 30 kg/m².
- Higher risk of COVID-19 associated with higher COVID-19 burden and being a doctor/nurse.
- Positive SARS-CoV-2 serology at enrollment reduced risk for both RTIs+COVID-19 and COVID-19; smoking also reduced COVID-19 risk.
Conclusions:
- Nurses and doctors with obesity exhibit the highest probability of developing RTIs, including COVID-19.
- Non-smoking healthcare workers show a higher probability of developing COVID-19.
- Increased regional COVID-19 burden elevates risk, whereas prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (indicated by serology) appears protective.
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