Background: Whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positivity among asymptomatic subjects reflects past or future disease may be difficult to ascertain.

Methods: We tested 9449 employees at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies, linked the results to sick leave records, and determined associations with past or future sick leave using multinomial logistic regression.

Results: Subjects with high amounts of SARS-CoV-2 virus, indicated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cycle threshold (Ct) value, had the highest risk for sick leave in the 2 weeks after testing (odds ratio [OR], 11.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.29-22.80) whereas subjects with low amounts of virus had the highest risk for sick leave in the 3 weeks before testing (OR, 6.31; 95% CI, 4.38-9.08). Only 2.5% of employees were SARS-CoV-2 positive while 10.5% were positive by serology and 1.2% were positive in both tests. Serology-positive subjects were not at excess risk for future sick leave (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, .71-1.57).

Conclusions: High amounts of SARS-CoV-2 virus, as determined using PCR Ct values, was associated with development of sickness in the next few weeks. Results support the concept that PCR Ct may be informative when testing for SARS-CoV-2. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT04411576.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7928785PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiab099DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

sick leave
20
high amounts
12
amounts sars-cov-2
12
future sick
8
sars-cov-2 virus
8
highest risk
8
risk sick
8
leave weeks
8
weeks testing
8
sars-cov-2
7

Similar Publications

Purpose: To explore the experiences of long-term sick-listed employees and those of employers with communication and collaboration during sick leave and the return-to-work (RTW) process.

Methods: Previously long-term sick-listed employees ( = 9) and employers ( = 9) were interviewed about their experiences with communication and collaboration during sick leave and RTW. Thematic analysis, utilizing patient journey mapping was applied to analyze and map out their experiences.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Short- and long-term costs of sinus balloon sinuplasty and middle meatal antrostomy.

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol

December 2024

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, PO Box 272, FI-33101, Tampere, Finland.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare hospital related costs, postoperative costs, and the long-term costs of maxillary balloon sinuplasty (BSP) and middle meatal antrostomy (MMA) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Methods: Data were collected from patient registers on 88 patients treated with BSP and 240 patients treated with MMA between 2011 and 2017. Information was also gathered on the related costs of surgery, material, postoperative ward care, and any extra patient visits that took place within one year following the operation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global economies, social structures, and public health systems. However, Denmark stood out as an exception, maintaining steady life expectancy during this period. This raises important questions about the factors that strengthened the Danish healthcare system and society against the pandemic's challenges.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Long COVID has affected approximately 200 million people globally, with substantial consequences for the individuals, healthcare systems and society. Treatment guidelines lack clear recommendations regarding increased activity. This study aimed to evaluate primary outcomes as patients' satisfaction, illness perception and patient activation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Disability insurance represents a significant economic burden within Brazil's social security system, yet long-term cost trends across disease groups remain understudied, hindering informed prevention and management strategies. Hospital costs, which account for approximately 40% of direct healthcare expenses, were selected as a comparative reference to contextualize the economic burden of disability insurance.

Objective: This study analyzes long-term cost trends of newly granted disability insurance by disease groups in Brazil, comparing them to public health system hospitalization expenses.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!