Post-COVID syndrome and work ability 9-12 months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection among over 9000 employees from the general population

Stefanie Braig; Raphael S Peter; Alexandra Nieters; Hans-Georg Kräusslich; Stefan O Brockmann; Siri Göpel; Gerhard Kindle; Uta Merle; Jürgen M Steinacker; Winfried V Kern; Dietrich Rothenbacher

doi:10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.11.015

Post-COVID syndrome and work ability 9-12 months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection among over 9000 employees from the general population

IJID Reg. 2023 Nov 24:10:67-74. doi: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.11.015. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
² Institute for Immunodeficiency, Medical Centre and Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany.
³ Institute of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
⁴ Department of Health Protection, Infection Control and Epidemiology, Baden-Wuerttemberg Federal State Health Office, Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
⁵ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
⁷ Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany.
⁸ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine II, Medical Centre and Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.

Abstract

Objectives: Evidence on the work-related societal impact of long-term health-related consequences following SARS-CoV-2 is emerging. We characterize the modified work ability index (mWAI) of employees 6 to 12 months after an acute infection compared to pre-infection.

Methods: Analyses were based on a population-based, multi-center cross-sectional study including employees aged 18-65 years with positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (tested between October 2020-April 2021 in defined geographic regions in Germany). Prevalences and results of adjusted logistic regression analyses were given.

Results: In 9752 employees (mean age 45.6 years, 58% females, response 24%), n = 1217 (13.1%) participants were regarded as having low mWAI compared to pre-infection. Outpatient medical treatment, inpatient treatment, and admission to intensive care during infection were associated with mWAI <15^th percentile (P15, each odds ratio [OR] >3.0). Post-COVID symptom clusters most strongly linked to mWAI <P15 were neurocognitive impairment and fatigue, but varying according to different age groups, to a lesser extent according to different work demands. Associations for pre-existing mental disorders (OR 3.6 [95% confidence interval 3.0; 4.3]) and mental disorders during/after infection (OR 8.0 [95% confidence interval 6.1; 10.4]) with mWAI <P15 were found.

Conclusion: Our findings revealed risk factors of mWAI <P15 and associations of post-COVID symptom clusters with WAI <P15, which could be potentially prioritized for targeting rehabilitation measures.

Keywords: Employment; Long Covid; Mental Health; Post Covid; SARS-CoV-2; Work Ability.