Occupation and SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence studies : a systematic review

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063771

Language of the publication
English
Date
2023-02-28
Type
Article
Author(s)
  • Boucher, Emily
  • D'Mello, Sean
  • Duarte, Nathan
  • Donnici, Claire
  • Duarte, Natalie
  • Bennett, Graham
  • SeroTracker Consortium
  • Adisesh, Anil
  • Arora, Rahul
  • Kodama, David
  • Bobrovitz, Niklas
  • Bobrovitz, Niklas
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group

Abstract

Objective
To describe and synthesise studies of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence by occupation prior to the widespread vaccine roll-out.

Methods
We identified studies of occupational seroprevalence from a living systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42020183634). Electronic databases, grey literature and news media were searched for studies published during January–December 2020. Seroprevalence estimates and a free-text description of the occupation were extracted and classified according to the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2010 system using a machine-learning algorithm. Due to heterogeneity, results were synthesised narratively.

Results
We identified 196 studies including 591 940 participants from 38 countries. Most studies (n=162; 83%) were conducted locally versus regionally or nationally. Sample sizes were generally small (median=220 participants per occupation) and 135 studies (69%) were at a high risk of bias. One or more estimates were available for 21/23 major SOC occupation groups, but over half of the estimates identified (n=359/600) were for healthcare-related occupations. ‘Personal Care and Service Occupations’ (median 22% (IQR 9–28%); n=14) had the highest median seroprevalence.

Conclusions
Many seroprevalence studies covering a broad range of occupations were published in the first year of the pandemic. Results suggest considerable differences in seroprevalence between occupations, although few large, high-quality studies were done. Well-designed studies are required to improve our understanding of the occupational risk of SARS-CoV-2 and should be considered as an element of pandemic preparedness for future respiratory pathogens.

Subject

  • Health,
  • Coronavirus diseases,
  • Epidemiology,
  • Occupations

Rights

Pagination

1-6

Peer review

Yes

Open access level

Gold

Identifiers

PubMed ID
36854599
ISSN
2044-6055

Article

Journal title
BMJ Open
Journal volume
13
Journal issue
2
Article number
e063771

Sponsors

SeroTracker receives funding for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence study evidence synthesis from the Public Health Agency of Canada through Canada’s COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (Grant Number 2021-HQ-000056), the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, the Robert Koch Institute and the Canadian Medical Association Joule Innovation Fund.

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Communicable diseases

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