Journal Article

Impact of lockdown on key workers: findings from the COVID-19 survey in four UK national longitudinal studies

Chaturvedi, Nishi, Wong, Andrew, Moon, James C, Hughes, Alun D, Conti, Gabriella, Patalay, Praveetha, Captur, Gabriella, Topriceanu, Constantin-Cristian, Bann, David

2021

Overview

BackgroundKey workers played a pivotal role during the national lockdown in the UK’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although protective measures have been taken, the impact of the pandemic on key workers is yet to be fully elucidated.MethodsParticipants were from four longitudinal age-homogeneous British cohorts (born in 2001, 1990, 1970 and 1958). A web-based survey provided outcome data during the first UK national lockdown (May 2020) on COVID-19 infection status, changes in financial situation, trust in government, conflict with people around, household composition, psychological distress, alcohol consumption, smoking and sleep duration. Generalised linear models with logit link assessed the association between being a key worker and the above outcomes. Adjustment was made for cohort design, non-response, sex, ethnicity, adult socioeconomic position (SEP), childhood SEP, the presence of a chronic illness and receipt of a shielding letter. Meta-analyses were performed across the cohorts.Findings13 736 participants were included. During lockdown, being a key worker was associated with increased chances of being infected with COVID-19 (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.68) and experiencing conflict with people around (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.37). However, key workers were less likely to be worse off financially (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.65), to consume more alcohol (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.98) or to smoke more (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.80) during lockdown. Interestingly, being a key worker was not associated with psychological distress (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.05).InterpretationBeing a key worker during the first UK COVID-19 lockdown was a double-edged sword, with both benefits and downsides. The UK government had the basic duty to protect its key workers from SARS-CoV-2 infection, but it may have failed to do so, and there is an urgent need to rectify this in light of the ongoing third wave.

• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd,BMJ,BMJ Publishing Group LTD,BMJ Publishing Group
• Subject: Adult / Age / Age groups / Alcohol / Alcohol use / Antibodies / Antigens / Child & adolescent mental health / Childhood / Children / Chronic illnesses / Conflict / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / COVID-19 - epidemiology / COVID-19 - prevention & control / Drinking behavior / Education / Emotional abuse / Employment / epidemiology / Essential workers / Ethnic relations / Ethnicity / Female / Government / health impact assessment / Humans / Infections / Internet / Linear analysis / Longitudinal Studies / Male / Meta-analysis / Middle Aged / Occupations - classification / Original Research / Pandemics / Pandemics - prevention & control / Polls & surveys / Psychological distress / Public finance / public health / Quarantine / Questionnaires / Sensitivity analysis / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 / Sleep / Smoking / Social classes / Social workers / Socioeconomic factors / Socioeconomic status / Statistical analysis / Surveys and Questionnaires / United Kingdom - epidemiology / Workers / Young Adult