Prevalence and Risk Factors for Long COVID Among California Workers Captured by a Doctor's First Report-Based Surveillance System

Details

• Journal Article:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Personal Author:
  Wambui, David ; Fiellin, Martha ; Majka, Claire ; Espineli, Carolina ; Flattery, Jennifer ; Vergara, Ximena P.
• Description:
  Objective: To understand prevalence and risk factors for long COVID among California workers. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, we analyzed 4496 Doctor's First Reports of Occupational Injury or Illness (DFRs) used for tracking work-related COVID-19 exposure or illnesses. Logistic regression was used to assess the risk factors. Results: With a prevalence of 11%, long COVID cases were slightly higher among male workers, workers aged between 45 and 54 years, and those in essential industries. Over 30 days of lost work was 13 times more prevalent among long COVID cases compared to acute cases. Age, presenting symptoms, and working in mixed essential industries increased long COVID risk. Conclusion: These findings highlight long COVID burden on workers' health and productivity. Proactive measures are crucial to safeguard workers' health.
• Subjects:
  COVID-19 Occupational Health Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Long COVID; Occupational Health; Workers; Surveillance; Post-acute Sequalae Of SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology; COVID-19; Risk Factors; Cross Sectional Studies; Surveillance; Lost Work Days; Worker Health; SARS-CoV-2; Long COVID;
• Source:
  J Occup Environ Med 2025 Dec; 67(12):1060-1068
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; San Francisco Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  9 pdf pages
• Volume:
  67
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071216
• Contact Point Address:
  David Wambui, DrPH, California Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch, 850 Marina Bay Pkwy. P-3, Richmond, CA 94804
• Email:
  david.wambui@cdph.ca.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Performing Organization:
  Public Health Institute
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a6fc39be07daed3f74017b587aad050c516bac9dc14660c3ab3b4b24fafc5b2d266d904c7d31e26bbe4d043cca6afb1ef6940798d02d41d52bc8b26bd7effae0
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/258695/cdc_258695_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 681.88 KB ]