Asbestos Exposure and Severity of COVID-19

Galo Granados, María Sáez-López, Cristina Aljama, Júlia Sampol, María-Jesús Cruz, Jaume Ferrer () and Se-COVID-19 Team
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Galo Granados: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Passeig Vall d’Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
María Sáez-López: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Passeig Vall d’Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Cristina Aljama: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Passeig Vall d’Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Júlia Sampol: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Passeig Vall d’Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
María-Jesús Cruz: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Passeig Vall d’Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Jaume Ferrer: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Passeig Vall d’Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Se-COVID-19 Team: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Passeig Vall d’Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-10

Abstract: Background: The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between occupational exposure to asbestos and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We evaluated patients who survived admission in our centre for COVID-19 pneumonia. Demographic, analytical, and clinical variables were collected during admission. After discharge, a previously validated occupational exposure to asbestos questionnaire was administered. Spirometry, CO diffusion test, the 6-min walk test, and high-resolution chest CT were performed. Patients who required respiratory support (oxygen, CPAP, or NIV) were considered severe. Results: In total, 293 patients (mean age 54 + 13 years) were included. Occupational exposure to asbestos was detected in 67 (24%). Patients with occupational exposure to asbestos had a higher frequency of COVID-19 pneumonia requiring respiratory support ( n = 52, 77.6%) than their unexposed peers ( n = 139, 61.5%) ( p = 0.015). Asbestos exposure was associated with COVID-19 severity in the univariate but not in the multivariate analysis. No differences were found regarding follow-up variables including spirometry and the DLCO diffusion, the 6-min walk test, and CT alterations. Conclusions: In hospitalised patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, those with occupational exposure to asbestos more frequently needed respiratory support. However, an independent association between asbestos exposure and COVID-19 severity could not be confirmed.

Keywords: COVID-19; asbestos exposure; occupational exposure; questionnaire (QEAS-7) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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