Safety and Health at Work

Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (산업안전보건연구원)
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Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Work Functioning in Japanese Workers: A Prospective Cohort Study

  • Makoto Okawara (Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health) ;
  • Keiki Hirashima (Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health) ;
  • Yu Igarashi (Disaster Occupational Health Center, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health) ;
  • Kosuke Mafune (Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health) ;
  • Keiji Muramatsu (Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health) ;
  • Tomohisa Nagata (Department of Occupational Health Practice and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health) ;
  • Mayumi Tsuji (Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health) ;
  • Akira Ogami (Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health) ;
  • Yoshihisa Fujino (Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health)
  • Received : 2023.07.11
  • Accepted : 2023.10.03
  • Published : 2023.12.30
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Abstract

Background: The impact of COVID-19 infection on workers' work function persists even after the acute phase of the infection. We studied this phenomenon in Japanese workers. Methods: We conducted a one-year prospective cohort study online, starting with a baseline survey in December 2020. We tracked workers without baseline work functioning impairment and incorporated data from 14,421 eligible individuals into the analysis. We estimated the incidence rate ratio for new onset of work functioning impairment due to COVID-19 infection during follow-up, using mixed-effects Poisson regression analysis with robust variance. Results: Participants reporting infection between January and December 2021 showed a significantly higher incidence of new work functioning impairment (adjusted incidence rate ratio: 2.18, 95% confidence interval: 1.75-2.71, p < 0.001). The formality of the recuperation environment correlated with a higher risk of work functioning deterioration in infected individuals (p for trend <0.001). Conclusion: COVID-19-infected workers may continue to experience work difficulties due to persistent, post-acute infection symptoms. Companies and society must urgently provide rehabilitation and social support for people with persistent symptoms, recognizing that COVID-19 is not just a transient acute infection.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The current members of the CORoNaWork Project, in alphabetical order, are as follows: Dr. Akira Ogami, Dr. Ayako Hino, Dr. Hajime Ando, Dr. Hisashi Eguchi, Dr. Keiji Muramatsu, Dr. Koji Mori, Dr. Kosuke Mafune, Dr. Makoto Okawara, Dr. Mami Kuwamura, Dr. Mayumi Tsuji, Dr. Ryutaro Matsugaki, Dr. Seiichiro Tateishi, Dr. Shinya Matsuda, Dr. Tomohiro Ishimaru, and Dr. Tomohisa Nagata, Dr. Yoshihisa Fujino (present chairperson of the study group), and Dr. Yu Igarashi. All members are affiliated with the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.

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