1. Introduction
SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (COVID-19) has generated a growing interest in Public Health, with the urge to define individual risk factors, in order to detect patients who could progress to severe or life-threatening illnesses. In the field of Occupational Health, it is necessary to stratified workers according to their risk or vulnerability, taking into account not only the classical clinical factors but also occupational-related variables and socio-demographic factors [1].
The job characteristics, and how the worker interacts with other people or other workers, can be translated into an increased risk of infection, making the worker a potential transmission of the virus in his community. Therefore, an early detection of outbreaks in work-environments, by assessing and quantifying the risk of contagious in a specific high risk workplace or occupational group, can help improve risk management in Public and Occupational Health and can be useful in preventing subsequent COVID-19 outbreaks. The work-environment is key to health interventions, which could protect both workers and the general population [2].
A worker’s vulnerability is defined as the probability of being affected by a substance or risk greater than the normal probability based on age and sex, either as a result of a higher susceptibility to infection or a higher level of exposure. In COVID-19 a worker high vulnerability will include a greater risk of infection and a greater probability of serious consequences in case of COVID-19 infection [3].
The concept of COVID-19 vulnerability is changeable. A worker might not be considered as vulnerable at the beginning of the pandemic, but he may become vulnerable due to health, social or job-changes. Age and previous health problems, including mental problems and comorbidities are considered classical clinical risk factors [4]. Previous studies have estimated the risk for different occupations [5], including in some studies, the risk evaluation of up to 100 different work-environments, taking into account three aspects: physical contact, proximity and exposure to the disease [6].
The objective of this work is to establish criteria to assess worker vulnerability against COVID-19 infection and to quantify them to establish different levels of vulnerability. Vulnerability score will be useful to apply efficiently the appropriate preventive measures.
2. Methods
Before the inclusion of variables in the tool, a scientific literature review was performed For the bibliographic review and selection of the literature, an exhaustive search of the COVID-19 concept and its relationship with the world of work is carried out, especially with the limitation of the worker, with the identification of the diseases related to the pandemic by their proper names. The search is carried out in Medline through the PubMed platform (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/), free access and with extensive international coverage. The search period is limited to the last two years and specifically to the last year and also includes classified journal articles (editorials, originals, letters, reviews, clinical notes). Are used the search terms: “COVID-19 and workplace”; “COVID-19 and occupational risk”; “COVID-19 and occupational preventive measures”; “COVID-19 and Occupational Health”; “COVID-19 and “vulnerability” and “COVID-19 and chronic diseases”.
Based on these reviews, we included in the protocol as elements to assess vulnerability: age, gender; previous comorbidities: diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking, cardiovascular diseases, coagulation disorders, chronic lung and liver disease, immune and autoimmune disorders, rheumatic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, cancer and major surgery; labor sectors and risk conditions and finally, the company’s preventive situation: use of protective equipment, preventive training, health surveillance and job change options. Each of these aspects is scored to obtain a total result that is stratified into degrees of aspects.
3. Protocol
Based on the current evidence and acknowledging that we are in a constantly changing situation, the following evaluation parameters were included in this protocol.
3.1. Individual Risk Factors Related to COVID-19 Vulnerability
Age: people over 60 years old, especially those over 70 years old [7] are at higher risk.
Pregnancy: Current information on the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women and fetuses shows that the probability of developing a serious clinical presentation is similar to that of the general population [8]. Nevertheless, it is necessary to be cautious in decision-making in pregnant working women, especially in high risk work sectors, such as health workers [9].
Gender: No clear differences have been detected between men and women. In Spain, the mortality rate in men is slightly higher [10] [11] [12].
3.2. Previous Comorbidity to Related to Vulnerability COVID-19
The presence of previous comorbidities has been clearly related to an increase in COVID-19 mortality rate [13]. Previous health conditions related to high risk include: 1) recent cancer diagnosis or cancer being treated at the time of infection [14]; 2) cardiovascular disease or coagulation disorders which have been associated with multiple direct and indirect cardiovascular complications [15] [16] or 3) diabetes which has been related to severe pneumonia and increased mortality [17] [18]; 4) obesity, especially if BMI > 40 has also been related with higher mortality from COVID-19 [19] [20]. The most frequent comorbidities detected in severely infected patients are: hypertension, obesity and diabetes [21]; 5) moderate to severe asthma, has been associated with increased severity of infection and asthma nebulizer treatments should be avoided due to the risk of aerosolization [22] [23]; 6) other conditions include: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with rapid deterioration of lung function respiratory failure [24]; 7) tobacco use [25]; 8) chronic liver involvement. Hyperinflammatory reactions may contribute to the development of liver injury post COVID-19 [26] [27]; 9) immunity disorders have also been considered a risk factor for COVID-19 [28] including a very heterogeneous group with multiple underlying causes and degrees of immune alteration. Immunosuppression can be associated with a disease or secondary to prescribed treatments.
3.3. Disease Control and Response to Prescribed Therapies
To assess risk related to previous comorbidities, it is necessary to consider not only the disease itself, but also the level of disease control achieved over the last year, the need of therapeutic adjustments, the response to treatments, the number of acute-events or exacerbations requiring hospital admissions or urgent care visits, and sickness absence in the last year.
3.4. Occupational Risks Related to COVID-19 Vulnerability
When assessing worker vulnerability to COVID-19, some sectors are considered to be of highest risk, specifically those works in relation to public attention. The prevention measures placed against infection (collective and individual) must also be taken into account [29].
Healthcare workers. Recognized high risk. Rigorous preventive procedures and protective measures are recommended to guarantee the operation of the basic medical care system [30] [31] [32].
Social health workers. Including workers of nursing homes and social services, in this case, the high vulnerability of the people they work for and care for requires very rigorous control and monitoring of these workers [33].
Security Forces. In risk situations such as the current one, they may be in contact with symptomatic people and need specific strict protection measures.
3.5. Preventive Management at the Workplace Related to COVID-19 Vulnerability
It is an essential aspect in the assessment, the preventive management of companies and the integration of preventive measures in the organization.
Specific protocols for infection prevention and control within the company should be developed. Collective protection measures, such as separation of work places or barrier or protection elements to promote social distancing should be implemented. Individual protections such as face-masks, respirators, screens, or gloves, based on the knowledge of each different mask protective factor should be provided [34]. Areas for frequent hand washing and/or hydroalcoholic gel should be available. Preventive training actions and specific information sessions about the infection and the general preventive measures should be implemented by the company. Specific health surveillance and health actions based on the risk of contagion: assessment of vulnerable workers and detection and monitoring of cases and contacts. In workers when their own safety or third parties cannot be guaranteed with preventive measures, the option of a change in working conditions should be offered.
Proposed protocol for risk assessment and stratification
To quantify the risk and help support subsequent preventive decisions, we propose the methodology attached in Figure 1. The assigned score is shown in Tables 1-4 with an alternative option of using a computerized database to
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Figure 1. Spanish occupational medicine association. Vulnerability criteria guideline for COVID-19 in workers.
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Table 1. Individual risk factors related to COVID-19 vulnerability.
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Table 2. Previous comorbidity and its control related to COVID-19 vulnerability.
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Table 3. Occupational risks related to COVID-19 vulnerability.
*Risk Level Health sector (ref. Procedimiento de Actuación para los Servicios de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales frente a la exposición al SARS-COV-2. Disponible en: https://www.mscbs.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov-China/documentos/Proteccion_Trabajadores_SARS-CoV-2.pdf).
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Table 4. Preventive management at the workplace related to COVID-19 vulnerability.
streamline the process.
This is a proposal of protocol which has not been yet validated.
4. Discussion
Research related to the COVID 19 pandemic has led to a breakthrough in concepts that have been modified as the disease itself has done and its impact and evolution have been known. In the world of work, worker protection and transmission prevention mechanisms have been established, and have remarkably increased for workers considered as vulnerable, following official criteria established by the health authorities [35]. There are no similar protocols in the current literature to serve as a comparison, although the previously mentioned work by Marcus Lu partially addresses this topic, focusing on the risk from exposure of 100 well-known types of work and on a score based on three aspects: contact with others, physical proximity and risk of exposure to infection. In the protocol that we present here, 27 variables and subvariables are included, making it a comprehensive assessment of the worker and their work environment to determine the degree of vulnerability to COVID-19, which we hope can demonstrate its usefulness in subsequent testing, which is already taking place.
5. Preventive Recommendations
The main preventive recommendation regarding the protection of workers especially vulnerable to COVID-19 infection is to reduce exposure to risk:
· Conducting correct epidemiological surveillance based on the follow-up of cases and contacts that allows the early detection and control of infections in a coordinated way between occupational, primary, hospital health and public health organizations.
· Applying, within the scope of the specific powers of the Prevention Services, all the technical and health measures aimed at reducing the probability of contagion or limiting its consequences through: 1) training and specific information for workers and the implementation of prevention plans defined against COVID in companies; 2) adoption of organizational and preventive measures, both collective and individual, specific to COVID-19; 3) implementation of health surveillance procedures aimed at detection and protection of workers especially vulnerable to infection and the early management of possible cases in the workplace, especially in sectors of higher risk of contagion such as health and social health.
When the vulnerability of the worker recommends it, the change of job and the modifications in the working conditions would be the preventive priority options, with, if this was not possible, the medical leave for illness as a second option.
6. Conclusions
COVID-19 pandemic has created an enormous Public Health challenge and it has specifically affected work environments, with important Occupational Health repercussions. Acting based on preventive measures, each worker’s vulnerability needs to be assessed and quantified.
For this vulnerability evaluation, a general approach including sociodemographic, clinical and labor variables is proposed, following the World Health Organization recommendation: “think innovatively and lead the promotion of health and risk prevention within the Public Health field, obtaining accurate information to prepare and reduce risk in affected people, their families, and their community [36] ”.
Our protocol quantifies occupational risks and preventive business management as well as individual risk factors, previous comorbidities and disease control. The combined sum of all of them will allow quantifying individual vulnerability score and guide subsequent preventive actions in Occupational Health.