A prospective study of risk factors associated with seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers at a large UK teaching hospital

The CITIID-NIHR BioResource COVID-19 Collaboration

doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2022.08.030

A prospective study of risk factors associated with seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers at a large UK teaching hospital

The CITIID-NIHR BioResource COVID-19 Collaboration

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in UK healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: We conducted a prospective sero-epidemiological study of HCWs at a major UK teaching hospital using a SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay. Risk factors for seropositivity were analysed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: 410/5,698 (7·2%) staff tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Seroprevalence was higher in those working in designated COVID-19 areas compared with other areas (9·47% versus 6·16%) Healthcare assistants (aOR 2·06 [95%CI 1·14-3·71]; p=0·016) and domestic and portering staff (aOR 3·45 [95% CI 1·07-11·42]; p=0·039) had significantly higher seroprevalence than other staff groups after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity and COVID-19 working location. Staff working in acute medicine and medical sub-specialities were also at higher risk (aOR 2·07 [95% CI 1·31-3·25]; p<0·002). Staff from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds had an aOR of 1·65 (95% CI 1·32 – 2·07; p<0·001) compared to white staff; this increased risk was independent of COVID-19 area working. The only symptoms significantly associated with seropositivity in a multivariable model were loss of sense of taste or smell, fever, and myalgia; 31% of staff testing positive reported no prior symptoms. Conclusions: Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst HCWs is highly heterogeneous and influenced by COVID-19 working location, role, age and ethnicity. Increased risk amongst BAME staff cannot be accounted for solely by occupational factors.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	557-564
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Infection
Volume	85
Issue number	5
Early online date	13 Oct 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2022.08.030
Publication status	Published - Nov 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
SGB, IGG and MPW are funded by Wellcome Senior Fellowships (Grant ID 215515/Z/19/Z , 207498/Z/17/Z , 108070/Z/15/Z ). DJC and SL received funding for this work from Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (Grant ID 900254 ). MET is supported by the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Health Foundation and the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. BW is funded by the National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022

Keywords

COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
healthcare workers
risk factor analysis
sero-epidemiology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.jinf.2022.08.030

Cite this

@article{f3c6d526b5ac478abf86911396083815,

title = "A prospective study of risk factors associated with seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers at a large UK teaching hospital",

abstract = "Objectives: To describe the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in UK healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: We conducted a prospective sero-epidemiological study of HCWs at a major UK teaching hospital using a SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay. Risk factors for seropositivity were analysed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: 410/5,698 (7·2%) staff tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Seroprevalence was higher in those working in designated COVID-19 areas compared with other areas (9·47% versus 6·16%) Healthcare assistants (aOR 2·06 [95%CI 1·14-3·71]; p=0·016) and domestic and portering staff (aOR 3·45 [95% CI 1·07-11·42]; p=0·039) had significantly higher seroprevalence than other staff groups after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity and COVID-19 working location. Staff working in acute medicine and medical sub-specialities were also at higher risk (aOR 2·07 [95% CI 1·31-3·25]; p<0·002). Staff from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds had an aOR of 1·65 (95% CI 1·32 – 2·07; p<0·001) compared to white staff; this increased risk was independent of COVID-19 area working. The only symptoms significantly associated with seropositivity in a multivariable model were loss of sense of taste or smell, fever, and myalgia; 31% of staff testing positive reported no prior symptoms. Conclusions: Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst HCWs is highly heterogeneous and influenced by COVID-19 working location, role, age and ethnicity. Increased risk amongst BAME staff cannot be accounted for solely by occupational factors.",

keywords = "COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, healthcare workers, risk factor analysis, sero-epidemiology",

author = "{The CITIID-NIHR BioResource COVID-19 Collaboration} and Cooper, {Daniel J.} and Sara Lear and Laura Watson and Ashley Shaw and Mark Ferris and Rainer Doffinger and Rachel Bousfield and Katherine Sharrocks and Weekes, {Michael P.} and Ben Warne and Dominic Sparkes and Jones, {Nick K.} and Lucy Rivett and Matthew Routledge and Afzal Chaudhry and Katherine Dempsey and Montgomery Matson and Adil Lakha and George Gathercole and Olivia O'Connor and Emily Wilson and Orthi Shahzad and Kieran Toms and Rachel Thompson and Ian Halsall and David Halsall and Sally Houghton and Sofia Papadia and Nathalie Kingston and Stirrups, {Kathleen E.} and Barbara Graves and Paul Townsend and Neil Walker and Hannah Stark and {De Angelis}, Daniela and Shaun Seaman and Gordon Dougan and Bradley, {John R.} and T{\"o}r{\"o}k, {M. Est{\'e}e} and Ian Goodfellow and Stephen Baker",

note = "Funding Information: SGB, IGG and MPW are funded by Wellcome Senior Fellowships (Grant ID 215515/Z/19/Z , 207498/Z/17/Z , 108070/Z/15/Z ). DJC and SL received funding for this work from Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (Grant ID 900254 ). MET is supported by the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Health Foundation and the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. BW is funded by the National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022",

year = "2022",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1016/j.jinf.2022.08.030",

language = "English",

volume = "85",

pages = "557--564",

journal = "Journal of Infection",

issn = "0163-4453",

publisher = "W.B. Saunders Ltd",

number = "5",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - A prospective study of risk factors associated with seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers at a large UK teaching hospital

AU - The CITIID-NIHR BioResource COVID-19 Collaboration

AU - Cooper, Daniel J.

AU - Lear, Sara

AU - Watson, Laura

AU - Shaw, Ashley

AU - Ferris, Mark

AU - Doffinger, Rainer

AU - Bousfield, Rachel

AU - Sharrocks, Katherine

AU - Weekes, Michael P.

AU - Warne, Ben

AU - Sparkes, Dominic

AU - Jones, Nick K.

AU - Rivett, Lucy

AU - Routledge, Matthew

AU - Chaudhry, Afzal

AU - Dempsey, Katherine

AU - Matson, Montgomery

AU - Lakha, Adil

AU - Gathercole, George

AU - O'Connor, Olivia

AU - Wilson, Emily

AU - Shahzad, Orthi

AU - Toms, Kieran

AU - Thompson, Rachel

AU - Halsall, Ian

AU - Halsall, David

AU - Houghton, Sally

AU - Papadia, Sofia

AU - Kingston, Nathalie

AU - Stirrups, Kathleen E.

AU - Graves, Barbara

AU - Townsend, Paul

AU - Walker, Neil

AU - Stark, Hannah

AU - De Angelis, Daniela

AU - Seaman, Shaun

AU - Dougan, Gordon

AU - Bradley, John R.

AU - Török, M. Estée

AU - Goodfellow, Ian

AU - Baker, Stephen

N1 - Funding Information: SGB, IGG and MPW are funded by Wellcome Senior Fellowships (Grant ID 215515/Z/19/Z , 207498/Z/17/Z , 108070/Z/15/Z ). DJC and SL received funding for this work from Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (Grant ID 900254 ). MET is supported by the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Health Foundation and the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. BW is funded by the National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Publisher Copyright: © 2022

PY - 2022/11

Y1 - 2022/11

N2 - Objectives: To describe the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in UK healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: We conducted a prospective sero-epidemiological study of HCWs at a major UK teaching hospital using a SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay. Risk factors for seropositivity were analysed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: 410/5,698 (7·2%) staff tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Seroprevalence was higher in those working in designated COVID-19 areas compared with other areas (9·47% versus 6·16%) Healthcare assistants (aOR 2·06 [95%CI 1·14-3·71]; p=0·016) and domestic and portering staff (aOR 3·45 [95% CI 1·07-11·42]; p=0·039) had significantly higher seroprevalence than other staff groups after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity and COVID-19 working location. Staff working in acute medicine and medical sub-specialities were also at higher risk (aOR 2·07 [95% CI 1·31-3·25]; p<0·002). Staff from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds had an aOR of 1·65 (95% CI 1·32 – 2·07; p<0·001) compared to white staff; this increased risk was independent of COVID-19 area working. The only symptoms significantly associated with seropositivity in a multivariable model were loss of sense of taste or smell, fever, and myalgia; 31% of staff testing positive reported no prior symptoms. Conclusions: Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst HCWs is highly heterogeneous and influenced by COVID-19 working location, role, age and ethnicity. Increased risk amongst BAME staff cannot be accounted for solely by occupational factors.

AB - Objectives: To describe the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in UK healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: We conducted a prospective sero-epidemiological study of HCWs at a major UK teaching hospital using a SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay. Risk factors for seropositivity were analysed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: 410/5,698 (7·2%) staff tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Seroprevalence was higher in those working in designated COVID-19 areas compared with other areas (9·47% versus 6·16%) Healthcare assistants (aOR 2·06 [95%CI 1·14-3·71]; p=0·016) and domestic and portering staff (aOR 3·45 [95% CI 1·07-11·42]; p=0·039) had significantly higher seroprevalence than other staff groups after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity and COVID-19 working location. Staff working in acute medicine and medical sub-specialities were also at higher risk (aOR 2·07 [95% CI 1·31-3·25]; p<0·002). Staff from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds had an aOR of 1·65 (95% CI 1·32 – 2·07; p<0·001) compared to white staff; this increased risk was independent of COVID-19 area working. The only symptoms significantly associated with seropositivity in a multivariable model were loss of sense of taste or smell, fever, and myalgia; 31% of staff testing positive reported no prior symptoms. Conclusions: Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst HCWs is highly heterogeneous and influenced by COVID-19 working location, role, age and ethnicity. Increased risk amongst BAME staff cannot be accounted for solely by occupational factors.

KW - COVID-19

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - healthcare workers

KW - risk factor analysis

KW - sero-epidemiology

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U2 - 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.08.030

DO - 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.08.030

M3 - Article

C2 - 36058413

AN - SCOPUS:85137728506

SN - 0163-4453

VL - 85

SP - 557

EP - 564

JO - Journal of Infection

JF - Journal of Infection

IS - 5

ER -

A prospective study of risk factors associated with seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers at a large UK teaching hospital

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Cite this