Prevalence and risk indicators of first-wave COVID-19 among oral health-care workers: A French epidemiological survey.
<h4>Background</h4>Previous studies have highlighted the increased risk of contracting the COVID-19 for health-care workers and suggest that oral health-care workers may carry the greatest risk. Considering the transmission route of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, a similar increased risk can...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246586 |
| _version_ | 1818722846002642944 |
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| author | Sébastien Jungo Nathan Moreau Marco E Mazevet Anne-Laure Ejeil Martin Biosse Duplan Benjamin Salmon Violaine Smail-Faugeron |
| author_facet | Sébastien Jungo Nathan Moreau Marco E Mazevet Anne-Laure Ejeil Martin Biosse Duplan Benjamin Salmon Violaine Smail-Faugeron |
| author_sort | Sébastien Jungo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Previous studies have highlighted the increased risk of contracting the COVID-19 for health-care workers and suggest that oral health-care workers may carry the greatest risk. Considering the transmission route of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, a similar increased risk can be hypothesized for other respiratory infections. However, no study has specifically assessed the risk of contracting COVID-19 within the dental profession.<h4>Methods</h4>An online survey was conducted within a population of French dental professionals between April 1 and April 29, 2020. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to explore risk indicators associated with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and COVID-19-related clinical phenotypes (i.e. phenotypes present in 15% or more of SARS-CoV-2-positive cases).<h4>Results</h4>4172 dentists and 1868 dental assistants responded to the survey, representing approximately 10% of French oral health-care workers. The prevalence of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was 1.9% for dentists and 0.8% for dental assistants. Higher prevalence was found for COVID-19-related clinical phenotypes both in dentists (15.0%) and dental assistants (11.8%). Chronic kidney disease and obesity were associated with increased odds of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, whereas working in a practice limited to endodontics was associated with decreased odds. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, use of public transportation and having a practice limited to periodontology were associated with increased odds of presenting a COVID-19-related clinical phenotype. Moreover, changes in work rhythm or clinical practice were associated with decreased odds of both outcomes.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Although oral health-care professionals were surprisingly not at higher risk of COVID-19 than the general population, specific risk indicators could exist, notably among high aerosol-generating dental subspecialties such as periodontology. Considering the similarities between COVID-19-related clinical phenotypes other viral respiratory infections, lessons can be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the usefulness of equipping and protecting oral health-care workers, notably during seasonal viral outbreaks, to limit infection spread.<h4>Impact</h4>Results from this study may provide important insights for relevant health authorities regarding the overall infection status of oral health-care workers in the current pandemic and draw attention to particular at-risk groups, as illustrated in the present study. Protecting oral health-care workers could be an interesting public health strategy to prevent the resurgence of COVID-19 and/or the emergence of new pandemics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:01:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06b71364bb1b4a9094e5cdf939354586 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:01:06Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-06b71364bb1b4a9094e5cdf9393545862022-12-21T21:32:43ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01162e024658610.1371/journal.pone.0246586Prevalence and risk indicators of first-wave COVID-19 among oral health-care workers: A French epidemiological survey.Sébastien JungoNathan MoreauMarco E MazevetAnne-Laure EjeilMartin Biosse DuplanBenjamin SalmonViolaine Smail-Faugeron<h4>Background</h4>Previous studies have highlighted the increased risk of contracting the COVID-19 for health-care workers and suggest that oral health-care workers may carry the greatest risk. Considering the transmission route of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, a similar increased risk can be hypothesized for other respiratory infections. However, no study has specifically assessed the risk of contracting COVID-19 within the dental profession.<h4>Methods</h4>An online survey was conducted within a population of French dental professionals between April 1 and April 29, 2020. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to explore risk indicators associated with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and COVID-19-related clinical phenotypes (i.e. phenotypes present in 15% or more of SARS-CoV-2-positive cases).<h4>Results</h4>4172 dentists and 1868 dental assistants responded to the survey, representing approximately 10% of French oral health-care workers. The prevalence of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was 1.9% for dentists and 0.8% for dental assistants. Higher prevalence was found for COVID-19-related clinical phenotypes both in dentists (15.0%) and dental assistants (11.8%). Chronic kidney disease and obesity were associated with increased odds of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, whereas working in a practice limited to endodontics was associated with decreased odds. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, use of public transportation and having a practice limited to periodontology were associated with increased odds of presenting a COVID-19-related clinical phenotype. Moreover, changes in work rhythm or clinical practice were associated with decreased odds of both outcomes.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Although oral health-care professionals were surprisingly not at higher risk of COVID-19 than the general population, specific risk indicators could exist, notably among high aerosol-generating dental subspecialties such as periodontology. Considering the similarities between COVID-19-related clinical phenotypes other viral respiratory infections, lessons can be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the usefulness of equipping and protecting oral health-care workers, notably during seasonal viral outbreaks, to limit infection spread.<h4>Impact</h4>Results from this study may provide important insights for relevant health authorities regarding the overall infection status of oral health-care workers in the current pandemic and draw attention to particular at-risk groups, as illustrated in the present study. Protecting oral health-care workers could be an interesting public health strategy to prevent the resurgence of COVID-19 and/or the emergence of new pandemics.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246586 |
| spellingShingle | Sébastien Jungo Nathan Moreau Marco E Mazevet Anne-Laure Ejeil Martin Biosse Duplan Benjamin Salmon Violaine Smail-Faugeron Prevalence and risk indicators of first-wave COVID-19 among oral health-care workers: A French epidemiological survey. PLoS ONE |
| title | Prevalence and risk indicators of first-wave COVID-19 among oral health-care workers: A French epidemiological survey. |
| title_full | Prevalence and risk indicators of first-wave COVID-19 among oral health-care workers: A French epidemiological survey. |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and risk indicators of first-wave COVID-19 among oral health-care workers: A French epidemiological survey. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and risk indicators of first-wave COVID-19 among oral health-care workers: A French epidemiological survey. |
| title_short | Prevalence and risk indicators of first-wave COVID-19 among oral health-care workers: A French epidemiological survey. |
| title_sort | prevalence and risk indicators of first wave covid 19 among oral health care workers a french epidemiological survey |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246586 |
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