Was the risk of death among the population of teachers and other school workers in England and Wales due to COVID-19 and all causes higher than other occupations during the pandemic in 2020?: An ecological study using routinely collected data on deaths from the Office for National Statistics

Sarah J Lewis; Kyle Dack; Caroline L Relton; Marcus R Munafo; George Davey Smith

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050656

Was the risk of death among the population of teachers and other school workers in England and Wales due to COVID-19 and all causes higher than other occupations during the pandemic in 2020? An ecological study using routinely collected data on deaths from the Office for National Statistics

Sarah J Lewis, Kyle Dack, Caroline L Relton, Marcus R Munafo, George Davey Smith

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

46 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To estimate occupation risk from COVID-19 among teachers and others working in schools using publicly available data on mortality in England and Wales.

DESIGN: Analysis of national death registration data from the Office for National Statistics.

SETTING: England and Wales, 8 March-28 December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PARTICIPANTS: The total working age population in England and Wales plus those still working aged over 65 years.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Death with COVID-19 as a primary outcome and death from all causes as a secondary outcome.

RESULTS: Across occupational groups, there was a strong correlation between COVID-19 mortality and both non-COVID-19 and all-cause mortality. The absolute mortality rates for deaths with COVID-19 were low among those working in schools (from 10 per 100 000 in female primary school teachers to 39 per 100 000 male secondary school teachers) relative to many other occupations (range: 9-50 per 100 000 in women; 10-143 per 100 000 in men). There was weak evidence that secondary school teachers had slightly higher risks of dying with COVID-19 compared with the average for all working-aged people, but stronger evidence of a higher risk compared with the average for all professionals; primary school teachers had a lower risk. All-cause mortality was also higher among all teachers compared with all professionals. Teaching and lunchtime assistants were not at higher risk of death from COVID-19 compared with all working-aged people.

CONCLUSION: There was weak evidence that COVID-19 mortality risk for secondary school teachers was above expectation, but in general school staff had COVID-19 mortality risks which were proportionate to their non-COVID-19 mortality risk.

Original language	English
Article number	e050656
Pages (from-to)	1-10
Number of pages	10
Journal	BMJ Open
Volume	11
Issue number	11
Early online date	23 Nov 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050656
Publication status	Published - 23 Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding SJL, CLR and GDS have received a grant from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) COVID-19 mapping and mitigation in schools (CoMMinS). GDS is director of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology unit and receives support from the MRC (MC_UU_00011/1), CLR and MRM are members of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit and also receive support from the MRC (MC_UU_00011/5) and (MC_UU_00011/7).

Funding Information:
SJL, CLR and GDS have received a grant from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) COVID-19 mapping and mitigation in schools (CoMMinS). GDS is director of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology unit and receives support from the MRC (MC_UU_00011/1), CLR and MRM are members of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit and also receive support from the MRC (MC_UU_00011/5) and (MC_UU_00011/7).

Publisher Copyright:
©

Access to Document

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050656

Full-text PDF (Final published version)
This is the final published version of the article (version of record). It first appeared online via BMJ Publishing Group at 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050656. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Final published version, 400 KBLicence: CC BY

Handle.net

Persistent link

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Was the risk of death among the population of teachers and other school workers in England and Wales due to COVID-19 and all causes higher than other occupations during the pandemic in 2020? An ecological study using routinely collected data on deaths from the Office for National Statistics'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

IEU: MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit Quinquennial renewal
Gaunt, L. F. (Principal Investigator) & Davey Smith, G. (Principal Investigator)
1/04/18 → 31/03/23
Project: Research
Rework of IEU Munafo Programme
Munafo, M. R. (Principal Investigator)
1/04/18 → 31/03/23
Project: Research
IEU 2 Relton Programme - Epigenetic Epidemiology
Relton, C. L. (Principal Investigator)
1/04/18 → 31/03/23
Project: Research

Cite this

Lewis, S. J., Dack, K., Relton, C. L., Munafo, M. R., & Davey Smith, G. (2021). Was the risk of death among the population of teachers and other school workers in England and Wales due to COVID-19 and all causes higher than other occupations during the pandemic in 2020? An ecological study using routinely collected data on deaths from the Office for National Statistics. BMJ Open, 11(11), 1-10. Article e050656. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050656

Lewis, Sarah J ; Dack, Kyle ; Relton, Caroline L et al. / Was the risk of death among the population of teachers and other school workers in England and Wales due to COVID-19 and all causes higher than other occupations during the pandemic in 2020? An ecological study using routinely collected data on deaths from the Office for National Statistics. In: BMJ Open. 2021 ; Vol. 11, No. 11. pp. 1-10.

@article{be053ff6838f43f0b1dc4fe2617dbcb9,

title = "Was the risk of death among the population of teachers and other school workers in England and Wales due to COVID-19 and all causes higher than other occupations during the pandemic in 2020?: An ecological study using routinely collected data on deaths from the Office for National Statistics",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: To estimate occupation risk from COVID-19 among teachers and others working in schools using publicly available data on mortality in England and Wales.DESIGN: Analysis of national death registration data from the Office for National Statistics.SETTING: England and Wales, 8 March-28 December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.PARTICIPANTS: The total working age population in England and Wales plus those still working aged over 65 years.PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Death with COVID-19 as a primary outcome and death from all causes as a secondary outcome.RESULTS: Across occupational groups, there was a strong correlation between COVID-19 mortality and both non-COVID-19 and all-cause mortality. The absolute mortality rates for deaths with COVID-19 were low among those working in schools (from 10 per 100 000 in female primary school teachers to 39 per 100 000 male secondary school teachers) relative to many other occupations (range: 9-50 per 100 000 in women; 10-143 per 100 000 in men). There was weak evidence that secondary school teachers had slightly higher risks of dying with COVID-19 compared with the average for all working-aged people, but stronger evidence of a higher risk compared with the average for all professionals; primary school teachers had a lower risk. All-cause mortality was also higher among all teachers compared with all professionals. Teaching and lunchtime assistants were not at higher risk of death from COVID-19 compared with all working-aged people.CONCLUSION: There was weak evidence that COVID-19 mortality risk for secondary school teachers was above expectation, but in general school staff had COVID-19 mortality risks which were proportionate to their non-COVID-19 mortality risk.",

author = "Lewis, {Sarah J} and Kyle Dack and Relton, {Caroline L} and Munafo, {Marcus R} and {Davey Smith}, George",

note = "Funding Information: Funding SJL, CLR and GDS have received a grant from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) COVID-19 mapping and mitigation in schools (CoMMinS). GDS is director of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology unit and receives support from the MRC (MC_UU_00011/1), CLR and MRM are members of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit and also receive support from the MRC (MC_UU_00011/5) and (MC_UU_00011/7). Funding Information: SJL, CLR and GDS have received a grant from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) COVID-19 mapping and mitigation in schools (CoMMinS). GDS is director of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology unit and receives support from the MRC (MC_UU_00011/1), CLR and MRM are members of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit and also receive support from the MRC (MC_UU_00011/5) and (MC_UU_00011/7). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright}",

year = "2021",

month = nov,

day = "23",

doi = "10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050656",

language = "English",

volume = "11",

pages = "1--10",

journal = "BMJ Open",

issn = "2044-6055",

publisher = "BMJ Publishing Group",

number = "11",

}

Lewis, SJ, Dack, K, Relton, CL, Munafo, MR & Davey Smith, G 2021, 'Was the risk of death among the population of teachers and other school workers in England and Wales due to COVID-19 and all causes higher than other occupations during the pandemic in 2020? An ecological study using routinely collected data on deaths from the Office for National Statistics', BMJ Open, vol. 11, no. 11, e050656, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050656

Was the risk of death among the population of teachers and other school workers in England and Wales due to COVID-19 and all causes higher than other occupations during the pandemic in 2020? An ecological study using routinely collected data on deaths from the Office for National Statistics. / Lewis, Sarah J; Dack, Kyle; Relton, Caroline L et al.
In: BMJ Open, Vol. 11, No. 11, e050656, 23.11.2021, p. 1-10.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Was the risk of death among the population of teachers and other school workers in England and Wales due to COVID-19 and all causes higher than other occupations during the pandemic in 2020?

T2 - An ecological study using routinely collected data on deaths from the Office for National Statistics

AU - Lewis, Sarah J

AU - Dack, Kyle

AU - Relton, Caroline L

AU - Munafo, Marcus R

AU - Davey Smith, George

N1 - Funding Information: Funding SJL, CLR and GDS have received a grant from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) COVID-19 mapping and mitigation in schools (CoMMinS). GDS is director of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology unit and receives support from the MRC (MC_UU_00011/1), CLR and MRM are members of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit and also receive support from the MRC (MC_UU_00011/5) and (MC_UU_00011/7). Funding Information: SJL, CLR and GDS have received a grant from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) COVID-19 mapping and mitigation in schools (CoMMinS). GDS is director of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology unit and receives support from the MRC (MC_UU_00011/1), CLR and MRM are members of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit and also receive support from the MRC (MC_UU_00011/5) and (MC_UU_00011/7). Publisher Copyright: ©

PY - 2021/11/23

Y1 - 2021/11/23

N2 - OBJECTIVES: To estimate occupation risk from COVID-19 among teachers and others working in schools using publicly available data on mortality in England and Wales.DESIGN: Analysis of national death registration data from the Office for National Statistics.SETTING: England and Wales, 8 March-28 December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.PARTICIPANTS: The total working age population in England and Wales plus those still working aged over 65 years.PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Death with COVID-19 as a primary outcome and death from all causes as a secondary outcome.RESULTS: Across occupational groups, there was a strong correlation between COVID-19 mortality and both non-COVID-19 and all-cause mortality. The absolute mortality rates for deaths with COVID-19 were low among those working in schools (from 10 per 100 000 in female primary school teachers to 39 per 100 000 male secondary school teachers) relative to many other occupations (range: 9-50 per 100 000 in women; 10-143 per 100 000 in men). There was weak evidence that secondary school teachers had slightly higher risks of dying with COVID-19 compared with the average for all working-aged people, but stronger evidence of a higher risk compared with the average for all professionals; primary school teachers had a lower risk. All-cause mortality was also higher among all teachers compared with all professionals. Teaching and lunchtime assistants were not at higher risk of death from COVID-19 compared with all working-aged people.CONCLUSION: There was weak evidence that COVID-19 mortality risk for secondary school teachers was above expectation, but in general school staff had COVID-19 mortality risks which were proportionate to their non-COVID-19 mortality risk.

AB - OBJECTIVES: To estimate occupation risk from COVID-19 among teachers and others working in schools using publicly available data on mortality in England and Wales.DESIGN: Analysis of national death registration data from the Office for National Statistics.SETTING: England and Wales, 8 March-28 December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.PARTICIPANTS: The total working age population in England and Wales plus those still working aged over 65 years.PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Death with COVID-19 as a primary outcome and death from all causes as a secondary outcome.RESULTS: Across occupational groups, there was a strong correlation between COVID-19 mortality and both non-COVID-19 and all-cause mortality. The absolute mortality rates for deaths with COVID-19 were low among those working in schools (from 10 per 100 000 in female primary school teachers to 39 per 100 000 male secondary school teachers) relative to many other occupations (range: 9-50 per 100 000 in women; 10-143 per 100 000 in men). There was weak evidence that secondary school teachers had slightly higher risks of dying with COVID-19 compared with the average for all working-aged people, but stronger evidence of a higher risk compared with the average for all professionals; primary school teachers had a lower risk. All-cause mortality was also higher among all teachers compared with all professionals. Teaching and lunchtime assistants were not at higher risk of death from COVID-19 compared with all working-aged people.CONCLUSION: There was weak evidence that COVID-19 mortality risk for secondary school teachers was above expectation, but in general school staff had COVID-19 mortality risks which were proportionate to their non-COVID-19 mortality risk.

U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050656

DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050656

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

C2 - 34815280

SN - 2044-6055

VL - 11

SP - 1

EP - 10

JO - BMJ Open

JF - BMJ Open

IS - 11

M1 - e050656

ER -

Lewis SJ, Dack K, Relton CL, Munafo MR , Davey Smith G. Was the risk of death among the population of teachers and other school workers in England and Wales due to COVID-19 and all causes higher than other occupations during the pandemic in 2020? An ecological study using routinely collected data on deaths from the Office for National Statistics. BMJ Open. 2021 Nov 23;11(11):1-10. e050656. Epub 2021 Nov 23. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050656

Was the risk of death among the population of teachers and other school workers in England and Wales due to COVID-19 and all causes higher than other occupations during the pandemic in 2020? An ecological study using routinely collected data on deaths from the Office for National Statistics

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Access to Document

Handle.net

Fingerprint

Projects

IEU: MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit Quinquennial renewal

Rework of IEU Munafo Programme

IEU 2 Relton Programme - Epigenetic Epidemiology

Cite this