COVID-19 Across Professions – Infection, Hospitalisation, and ICU Patterns in a Swedish County

Objective The aim of the study was to study infection, hospitalization, and admission to intensive care unit for COVID-19 in different occupations and pandemic waves in a Swedish county. Methods Individual registry data of infection and hospitalization were merged with occupational data in this cross-sectional study. Infected, hospital-, and intensive care unit-admission were analyzed by occupational groups. Results 22,095 cases of COVID-19 from 21 February 2020 to 31 August 2022 were identified. Healthcare workers and others working in close physical proximity showed a higher rate of confirmed COVID-19 infections in all waves and higher risk for hospital admission early in the pandemic. Exposure to diseases and physical proximity played a decisive role. Conclusions Workers in close-contact occupations experienced a higher rate of confirmed infections throughout the pandemic and higher hospitalization rates in the first pandemic wave, suggesting a need for more effective initial safety measures in a future pandemic.