Prevalence and risk factors of adverse work outcomes among manufacturing workers with Long COVID in Malaysia – A nationwide study

Introduction: The increasing prevalence and multiorgan involvement of Long COVID among the general population has raised concerns about the possible long-term effect of this condition among industrial workers. Therefore, this study seeks to determine the prevalence and risk factors of adverse work outcomes among Malaysian manufacturing workers affected by Long COVID. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Long COVID Questionnaire, Work-Related Quality of Life (WRQoL) Scale, and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) Questionnaire, which were physically distributed to previously-COVID-19 infected participants via convenient sampling. Simple logistic regression and multiple logistic regression were used to determine the association between the various risk factors and adverse work outcomes. Results: Among the 797 participants, a quarter (24.7%) of the workers with Long COVID demonstrated poor WRQoL. A total of 12.8% and 42.4% of workers with Long COVID had issues of sickness absenteeism and sickness presenteeism, respectively. Only 6.3% of the Long COVID workers had safety issues at work. Socio-clinical factors [i.e., older age (aOR=1.02) and smoking (aOR=1.38)], Long COVID symptoms [i.e., increased number of Long COVID symptoms (aOR=1.15)], work factors [i.e., engaged in shift work (aOR=1.25), handling of chemicals hazardous to health (aOR=2.51), exposure to confined space entry (aOR=1.60), exposure to excessive noise (aOR=1.55), and manual handling (aOR=1.33)], organisational factors [i.e., absence of sickness absence policy (aOR=2.77)] were significant risk factors of adverse work outcomes among workers with Long COVID. Conversely, personal factors [i.e., informing employers about the Long COVID symptom (aOR=0.32)] had a protective effect on adverse work outcomes. Conclusions: The impact of Long COVID on WRQoL, sickness absenteeism, sickness presenteeism, safety issues at work, as well as the multifactorial nature of adverse work outcomes highlights the need for targeted workplace interventions, supportive policies, early detection, and inclusive occupational health frameworks at the workplace.