Recognition of COVID-19 with occupational origin: A comparison between European countries

Evelien Nys; Sara Pauwels; Balázs Ádám; João Amaro; Athanasios Athanasiou; Osnat Bashkin; Tatjana Kofol Bric; Petar Bulat; Cigdem Caglayan; Irina Guseva Canu; Serghei Cebanu; Barbara Charbotel; Jolanta Cirule; Stefania Curti; Nadav Davidovitch; Keren Dopelt; Metoda Dodic Fikfak; Heikki Frilander; Per Gustavsson; Anje Christina Höper; Sibel Kiran; Manolis Kogevinas; Ferenc Kudász; Henrik A. Kolstad; Sanja Brekalo Lazarevic; Jelena Macan; Nicole Majery; Alessandro Marinaccio; Dana Mates; Stefano Mattioli; Damien Martin McElvenny; Zakia Mediouni; Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum; Eda Merisalu; Dragan Mijakoski; Evangelia Nena; Peter Noone; Marina Ruxandra Otelea; Daniela Pelclova; Nurka Pranjic; Mark Rosso; Consol Serra; Lesley Rushton; Abdulsamet Sandal; Eva S. Schernhammer; Sasho Stoleski; Michelle C. Turner; Henk F. Van Der Molen; Marek Varga; Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa; Kurt Straif; Lode Godderis

doi:10.1136/oemed-2022-108726

Recognition of COVID-19 with occupational origin: A comparison between European countries

Evelien Nys, Sara Pauwels, Balázs Ádám, João Amaro, Athanasios Athanasiou, Osnat Bashkin, Tatjana Kofol Bric, Petar Bulat, Cigdem Caglayan, Irina Guseva Canu, Serghei Cebanu, Barbara Charbotel, Jolanta Cirule, Stefania Curti, Nadav Davidovitch, Keren Dopelt, Metoda Dodic Fikfak, Heikki Frilander, Per Gustavsson, Anje Christina HöperSibel Kiran, Manolis Kogevinas, Ferenc Kudász, Henrik A. Kolstad, Sanja Brekalo Lazarevic, Jelena Macan, Nicole Majery, Alessandro Marinaccio, Dana Mates, Stefano Mattioli, Damien Martin McElvenny, Zakia Mediouni, Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum, Eda Merisalu, Dragan Mijakoski, Evangelia Nena, Peter Noone, Marina Ruxandra Otelea, Daniela Pelclova, Nurka Pranjic, Mark Rosso, Consol Serra, Lesley Rushton, Abdulsamet Sandal, Eva S. Schernhammer, Sasho Stoleski, Michelle C. Turner, Henk F. Van Der Molen, Marek Varga, Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa, Kurt Straif, Lode Godderis

Institute of Public Health

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

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives This study aims to present an overview of the formal recognition of COVID-19 as occupational disease (OD) or injury (OI) across Europe. Methods A COVID-19 questionnaire was designed by a task group within COST-funded OMEGA-NET and sent to occupational health experts of 37 countries in WHO European region, with a last update in April 2022. Results The questionnaire was filled out by experts from 35 countries. There are large differences between national systems regarding the recognition of OD and OI: 40% of countries have a list system, 57% a mixed system and one country an open system. In most countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as an OD (57%). In four countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as OI (11%) and in seven countries as either OD or OI (20%). In two countries, there is no recognition possible to date. Thirty-two countries (91%) recognise COVID-19 as OD/OI among healthcare workers. Working in certain jobs is considered proof of occupational exposure in 25 countries, contact with a colleague with confirmed infection in 19 countries, and contact with clients with confirmed infection in 21 countries. In most countries (57%), a positive PCR test is considered proof of disease. The three most common compensation benefits for COVID-19 as OI/OD are disability pension, treatment and rehabilitation. Long COVID is included in 26 countries. Conclusions COVID-19 can be recognised as OD or OI in 94% of the European countries completing this survey, across different social security and embedded occupational health systems.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	694-701
Number of pages	8
Journal	Occupational and environmental medicine
Volume	80
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2022-108726
Publication status	Published - Dec 1 2023

Keywords

COVID-19

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

UN SDGs

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

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10.1136/oemed-2022-108726

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Nys, E., Pauwels, S., Ádám, B., Amaro, J., Athanasiou, A., Bashkin, O., Bric, T. K., Bulat, P., Caglayan, C., Guseva Canu, I., Cebanu, S., Charbotel, B., Cirule, J., Curti, S., Davidovitch, N., Dopelt, K., Fikfak, M. D., Frilander, H., Gustavsson, P., ... Godderis, L. (2023). Recognition of COVID-19 with occupational origin: A comparison between European countries. Occupational and environmental medicine, 80(12), 694-701. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2022-108726

Nys, E, Pauwels, S, Ádám, B, Amaro, J, Athanasiou, A, Bashkin, O, Bric, TK, Bulat, P, Caglayan, C, Guseva Canu, I, Cebanu, S, Charbotel, B, Cirule, J, Curti, S, Davidovitch, N, Dopelt, K, Fikfak, MD, Frilander, H, Gustavsson, P, Höper, AC, Kiran, S, Kogevinas, M, Kudász, F, Kolstad, HA, Lazarevic, SB, Macan, J, Majery, N, Marinaccio, A, Mates, D, Mattioli, S, McElvenny, DM, Mediouni, Z, Mehlum, IS, Merisalu, E, Mijakoski, D, Nena, E, Noone, P, Otelea, MR, Pelclova, D, Pranjic, N, Rosso, M, Serra, C, Rushton, L, Sandal, A, Schernhammer, ES, Stoleski, S, Turner, MC, Van Der Molen, HF, Varga, M, Walusiak-Skorupa, J, Straif, K & Godderis, L 2023, 'Recognition of COVID-19 with occupational origin: A comparison between European countries', Occupational and environmental medicine, vol. 80, no. 12, pp. 694-701. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2022-108726

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title = "Recognition of COVID-19 with occupational origin: A comparison between European countries",

abstract = "Objectives This study aims to present an overview of the formal recognition of COVID-19 as occupational disease (OD) or injury (OI) across Europe. Methods A COVID-19 questionnaire was designed by a task group within COST-funded OMEGA-NET and sent to occupational health experts of 37 countries in WHO European region, with a last update in April 2022. Results The questionnaire was filled out by experts from 35 countries. There are large differences between national systems regarding the recognition of OD and OI: 40% of countries have a list system, 57% a mixed system and one country an open system. In most countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as an OD (57%). In four countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as OI (11%) and in seven countries as either OD or OI (20%). In two countries, there is no recognition possible to date. Thirty-two countries (91%) recognise COVID-19 as OD/OI among healthcare workers. Working in certain jobs is considered proof of occupational exposure in 25 countries, contact with a colleague with confirmed infection in 19 countries, and contact with clients with confirmed infection in 21 countries. In most countries (57%), a positive PCR test is considered proof of disease. The three most common compensation benefits for COVID-19 as OI/OD are disability pension, treatment and rehabilitation. Long COVID is included in 26 countries. Conclusions COVID-19 can be recognised as OD or OI in 94% of the European countries completing this survey, across different social security and embedded occupational health systems.",

keywords = "COVID-19",

author = "Evelien Nys and Sara Pauwels and Bal{\'a}zs {\'A}d{\'a}m and Jo{\~a}o Amaro and Athanasios Athanasiou and Osnat Bashkin and Bric, {Tatjana Kofol} and Petar Bulat and Cigdem Caglayan and {Guseva Canu}, Irina and Serghei Cebanu and Barbara Charbotel and Jolanta Cirule and Stefania Curti and Nadav Davidovitch and Keren Dopelt and Fikfak, {Metoda Dodic} and Heikki Frilander and Per Gustavsson and H{\"o}per, {Anje Christina} and Sibel Kiran and Manolis Kogevinas and Ferenc Kud{\'a}sz and Kolstad, {Henrik A.} and Lazarevic, {Sanja Brekalo} and Jelena Macan and Nicole Majery and Alessandro Marinaccio and Dana Mates and Stefano Mattioli and McElvenny, {Damien Martin} and Zakia Mediouni and Mehlum, {Ingrid Sivesind} and Eda Merisalu and Dragan Mijakoski and Evangelia Nena and Peter Noone and Otelea, {Marina Ruxandra} and Daniela Pelclova and Nurka Pranjic and Mark Rosso and Consol Serra and Lesley Rushton and Abdulsamet Sandal and Schernhammer, {Eva S.} and Sasho Stoleski and Turner, {Michelle C.} and {Van Der Molen}, {Henk F.} and Marek Varga and Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa and Kurt Straif and Lode Godderis",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.",

year = "2023",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1136/oemed-2022-108726",

language = "English",

volume = "80",

pages = "694--701",

journal = "Occupational and environmental medicine",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Recognition of COVID-19 with occupational origin

T2 - A comparison between European countries

AU - Nys, Evelien

AU - Pauwels, Sara

AU - Ádám, Balázs

AU - Amaro, João

AU - Athanasiou, Athanasios

AU - Bashkin, Osnat

AU - Bric, Tatjana Kofol

AU - Bulat, Petar

AU - Caglayan, Cigdem

AU - Guseva Canu, Irina

AU - Cebanu, Serghei

AU - Charbotel, Barbara

AU - Cirule, Jolanta

AU - Curti, Stefania

AU - Davidovitch, Nadav

AU - Dopelt, Keren

AU - Fikfak, Metoda Dodic

AU - Frilander, Heikki

AU - Gustavsson, Per

AU - Höper, Anje Christina

AU - Kiran, Sibel

AU - Kogevinas, Manolis

AU - Kudász, Ferenc

AU - Kolstad, Henrik A.

AU - Lazarevic, Sanja Brekalo

AU - Macan, Jelena

AU - Majery, Nicole

AU - Marinaccio, Alessandro

AU - Mates, Dana

AU - Mattioli, Stefano

AU - McElvenny, Damien Martin

AU - Mediouni, Zakia

AU - Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind

AU - Merisalu, Eda

AU - Mijakoski, Dragan

AU - Nena, Evangelia

AU - Noone, Peter

AU - Otelea, Marina Ruxandra

AU - Pelclova, Daniela

AU - Pranjic, Nurka

AU - Rosso, Mark

AU - Serra, Consol

AU - Rushton, Lesley

AU - Sandal, Abdulsamet

AU - Schernhammer, Eva S.

AU - Stoleski, Sasho

AU - Turner, Michelle C.

AU - Van Der Molen, Henk F.

AU - Varga, Marek

AU - Walusiak-Skorupa, Jolanta

AU - Straif, Kurt

AU - Godderis, Lode

PY - 2023/12/1

Y1 - 2023/12/1

N2 - Objectives This study aims to present an overview of the formal recognition of COVID-19 as occupational disease (OD) or injury (OI) across Europe. Methods A COVID-19 questionnaire was designed by a task group within COST-funded OMEGA-NET and sent to occupational health experts of 37 countries in WHO European region, with a last update in April 2022. Results The questionnaire was filled out by experts from 35 countries. There are large differences between national systems regarding the recognition of OD and OI: 40% of countries have a list system, 57% a mixed system and one country an open system. In most countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as an OD (57%). In four countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as OI (11%) and in seven countries as either OD or OI (20%). In two countries, there is no recognition possible to date. Thirty-two countries (91%) recognise COVID-19 as OD/OI among healthcare workers. Working in certain jobs is considered proof of occupational exposure in 25 countries, contact with a colleague with confirmed infection in 19 countries, and contact with clients with confirmed infection in 21 countries. In most countries (57%), a positive PCR test is considered proof of disease. The three most common compensation benefits for COVID-19 as OI/OD are disability pension, treatment and rehabilitation. Long COVID is included in 26 countries. Conclusions COVID-19 can be recognised as OD or OI in 94% of the European countries completing this survey, across different social security and embedded occupational health systems.

AB - Objectives This study aims to present an overview of the formal recognition of COVID-19 as occupational disease (OD) or injury (OI) across Europe. Methods A COVID-19 questionnaire was designed by a task group within COST-funded OMEGA-NET and sent to occupational health experts of 37 countries in WHO European region, with a last update in April 2022. Results The questionnaire was filled out by experts from 35 countries. There are large differences between national systems regarding the recognition of OD and OI: 40% of countries have a list system, 57% a mixed system and one country an open system. In most countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as an OD (57%). In four countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as OI (11%) and in seven countries as either OD or OI (20%). In two countries, there is no recognition possible to date. Thirty-two countries (91%) recognise COVID-19 as OD/OI among healthcare workers. Working in certain jobs is considered proof of occupational exposure in 25 countries, contact with a colleague with confirmed infection in 19 countries, and contact with clients with confirmed infection in 21 countries. In most countries (57%), a positive PCR test is considered proof of disease. The three most common compensation benefits for COVID-19 as OI/OD are disability pension, treatment and rehabilitation. Long COVID is included in 26 countries. Conclusions COVID-19 can be recognised as OD or OI in 94% of the European countries completing this survey, across different social security and embedded occupational health systems.

KW - COVID-19

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Recognition of COVID-19 with occupational origin: A comparison between European countries

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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