Ethnicity and risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among the healthcare workforce: Results of a retrospective cohort study in rural United Kingdom
Background: The reason why Black and South Asian healthcare workers are at a higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unclear. We aimed to quantify the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare staff who belong to the ethnic minority and elucidate pathways of infection. Methods: A one-year f...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971222002818 |
| _version_ | 1798004314229178368 |
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| author | Maxime Inghels Ros Kane Priya Lall David Nelson Agnes Nanyonjo Zahid Asghar Derek Ward Tracy McCranor Tony Kavanagh Todd Hogue Jaspreet Phull Frank Tanser |
| author_facet | Maxime Inghels Ros Kane Priya Lall David Nelson Agnes Nanyonjo Zahid Asghar Derek Ward Tracy McCranor Tony Kavanagh Todd Hogue Jaspreet Phull Frank Tanser |
| author_sort | Maxime Inghels |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The reason why Black and South Asian healthcare workers are at a higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unclear. We aimed to quantify the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare staff who belong to the ethnic minority and elucidate pathways of infection. Methods: A one-year follow-up retrospective cohort study has been conducted among National Health Service employees who were working at 123 facilities in Lincolnshire, UK. Results: Overall, 13,366 professionals were included. SARS-CoV-2 incidence per person-year was 5.2% (95% CI: 3.6–7.6%) during the first COVID-19 wave (January–August 2020) and 17.2% (13.5–22.0%) during the second wave (September 2020–February 2021). Compared with White staff, Black and South Asian employees were at higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection during both the first wave (hazard ratio, HR 1.58 [0.91–2.75] and 1.69 [1.07–2.66], respectively) and the second wave (HR 2.09 [1.57–2.76] and 1.46 [1.24–1.71]). Higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection persisted even after controlling for age, sex, pay grade, residence environment, type of work, and time exposure at work. Higher adjusted risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection were also found among lower-paid health professionals. Conclusion: Black and South Asian health workers continue to be at higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection than their White counterparts. Urgent interventions are required to reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection in these ethnic groups. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:21:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d5d4d8336b14d9a95e2bc6d5c530a93 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1201-9712 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:21:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d5d4d8336b14d9a95e2bc6d5c530a932022-12-22T04:24:04ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases1201-97122022-09-01122115122Ethnicity and risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among the healthcare workforce: Results of a retrospective cohort study in rural United KingdomMaxime Inghels0Ros Kane1Priya Lall2David Nelson3Agnes Nanyonjo4Zahid Asghar5Derek Ward6Tracy McCranor7Tony Kavanagh8Todd Hogue9Jaspreet Phull10Frank Tanser11Correspondence: Dr Maxime Inghels, Lincoln International Institute for Rural Health, University of Lincoln. Brayford Pool, Lincoln, Lincolnshire. LN6 7TS, tel: +44 (0)1522 88 6208.; Lincoln International Institute for Rural Health, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK; Centre Population et Développement (UMR 196 Paris Descartes – IRD), SageSud (ERL INSERM 1244), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, FranceSchool of Health and Social Care, University of Lincoln, UKLincoln International Institute for Rural Health, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK; London Interdisciplinary School, London, UKLincoln International Institute for Rural Health, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UKLincoln International Institute for Rural Health, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UKSchool of Health and Social Care, University of Lincoln, UKLincolnshire County Council, UKLincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Lincolnshire, UKLincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Lincolnshire, UKSchool of Psychology, University of Lincoln, UKLincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Lincolnshire, UKLincoln International Institute for Rural Health, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK; School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu‐Natal, Durban South AfricaBackground: The reason why Black and South Asian healthcare workers are at a higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unclear. We aimed to quantify the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare staff who belong to the ethnic minority and elucidate pathways of infection. Methods: A one-year follow-up retrospective cohort study has been conducted among National Health Service employees who were working at 123 facilities in Lincolnshire, UK. Results: Overall, 13,366 professionals were included. SARS-CoV-2 incidence per person-year was 5.2% (95% CI: 3.6–7.6%) during the first COVID-19 wave (January–August 2020) and 17.2% (13.5–22.0%) during the second wave (September 2020–February 2021). Compared with White staff, Black and South Asian employees were at higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection during both the first wave (hazard ratio, HR 1.58 [0.91–2.75] and 1.69 [1.07–2.66], respectively) and the second wave (HR 2.09 [1.57–2.76] and 1.46 [1.24–1.71]). Higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection persisted even after controlling for age, sex, pay grade, residence environment, type of work, and time exposure at work. Higher adjusted risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection were also found among lower-paid health professionals. Conclusion: Black and South Asian health workers continue to be at higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection than their White counterparts. Urgent interventions are required to reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection in these ethnic groups.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971222002818SARS-CoV-2COVID-19Risk factorsEthnicityHealth professionUnited Kingdom |
| spellingShingle | Maxime Inghels Ros Kane Priya Lall David Nelson Agnes Nanyonjo Zahid Asghar Derek Ward Tracy McCranor Tony Kavanagh Todd Hogue Jaspreet Phull Frank Tanser Ethnicity and risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among the healthcare workforce: Results of a retrospective cohort study in rural United Kingdom International Journal of Infectious Diseases SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Risk factors Ethnicity Health profession United Kingdom |
| title | Ethnicity and risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among the healthcare workforce: Results of a retrospective cohort study in rural United Kingdom |
| title_full | Ethnicity and risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among the healthcare workforce: Results of a retrospective cohort study in rural United Kingdom |
| title_fullStr | Ethnicity and risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among the healthcare workforce: Results of a retrospective cohort study in rural United Kingdom |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethnicity and risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among the healthcare workforce: Results of a retrospective cohort study in rural United Kingdom |
| title_short | Ethnicity and risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among the healthcare workforce: Results of a retrospective cohort study in rural United Kingdom |
| title_sort | ethnicity and risk for sars cov 2 infection among the healthcare workforce results of a retrospective cohort study in rural united kingdom |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Risk factors Ethnicity Health profession United Kingdom |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971222002818 |
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