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- Page navigation anchor for COVID-19 and return to work recommendations for people with chronic respiratory diseasesCOVID-19 and return to work recommendations for people with chronic respiratory diseases
Vogel examines Canada’s preparation for a second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.1 As restrictions ease, patients with chronic diseases are contacting physicians to inquire when they can return to work safely. Employers are posing similar questions. There is a consensus among many physicians responding to these questions: there are no answers. Few formal return to work recommendations focus on people with chronic diseases.
In our experience with patients with lung disease, the decision to return to work is compounded for two reasons: they may be at greater risk of acquiring COVID-19 or experiencing adverse outcomes if infected. Data suggests a lower-than-expected prevalence of COVID-19 in those with asthma and COPD, but it is unclear whether diseases like pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis or cancer put patients at higher risk of infection.2 One meta-analysis found an elevated odds ratio for developing severe COVID-19 in people with lung disease.3 With a return to routine social practices in the fall, finding strategies to get patients back to work safely will be vital.
The pillars of preventing workplace disease transmission will undoubtedly rest on principles of masking, hand washing, physical distancing and staying home when ill. These measures are inexpensive and adaptable to most settings. Beyond this, return to work plans could stratify people by age, disease severity and occupation. As older age is linked to worse outcomes, yo...
Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.References
- Vogel L. Is Canada ready for the second wave of COVID-19? CMAJ. 2020;192(24):E664-E5.
- Halpin DMG, Faner R, Sibila O, et al. Do chronic respiratory diseases or their treatment affect the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection? Lancet Respir Med. 2020;8(5):436-8.
- Yang J, Zheng Y, Gou X, et al. Prevalence of comorbidities and its effects in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Infect Dis. 2020;94:91-5.
- Licskai C, Yang CL, Ducharme FM, et al. Addressing therapeutic questions to help Canadian physicians optimize asthma management for their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Can J Resp Crit Care Sleep Med. 2020;4(2):73-6.
- Bhutani M, Hernandez P, Bourbeau J, et al. Addressing therapeutic questions to help Canadian health care professionals optimize COPD management for their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Can J Resp Crit Care Sleep Med. 2020;4(2):77-80.