Year: 2023
Type: Article
Title: Recognition of COVID-19 with occupational origin: a comparison between European countries
Author: Nys, Evelien
Author: Pauwels, Sara
Author: Ádám, Balázs
Author: Amaro, João
Author: Athanasiou, Athanasios
Author: Bashkin, Osnat
Author: Bric, Tatjana Kofol
Author: Bulat, Petar
Author: Caglayan, Cigdem
Author: Guseva Canu, Irina
Author: Cebanu, Serghei
Author: Charbotel, Barbara
Author: Cirule, Jolanta
Author: Curti, Stefania
Author: Davidovitch, Nadav
Author: Dopelt, Keren
Author: Fikfak, Metoda Dodic
Author: Frilander, Heikki
Author: Gustavsson, Per
Author: Höper, Anje Christina
Author: Kiran, Sibel
Author: Kogevinas, Manolis
Author: Kudász, Ferenc
Author: Kolstad, Henrik A
Author: Lazarevic, Sanja Brekalo
Author: Macan, Jelena
Author: Majery, Nicole
Author: Marinaccio, Alessandro
Author: Mates, Dana
Author: Mattioli, Stefano
Author: McElvenny, Damien Martin
Author: Mediouni, Zakia
Author: Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind
Author: Merisalu, Eda
Author: Mijakoski, Dragan
Author: Nena, Evangelia
Author: Noone, Peter
Author: Otelea, Marina Ruxandra
Author: Pelclova, Daniela
Author: Pranjic, Nurka
Author: Rosso, Mark
Author: Serra, Consol
Author: Rushton, Lesley
Author: Sandal, Abdulsamet
Author: Schernhammer, Eva S
Author: Stoleski, Sasho
Author: Turner, Michelle C
Author: van der Molen, Henk F
Author: Varga, Marek
Author: Walusiak-Skorupa, Jolanta
Author: Straif, Kurt
Author: Godderis, Lode
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 recognized as OD or OI in 94% of the European countries completing this survey, across different social security and embedded occupational health systems.
Publisher: BMJ
Relation: Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Identifier: oai:repository.ukim.mk:20.500.12188/28532
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12188/28532Identifier: 10.1136/oemed-2022-108726
Identifier: https://syndication.highwire.org/content/doi/10.1136/oemed-2022-108726
