Occupational impact of COVID-19 on military firefighters: A cohort study of incidence, reinfection, and absenteeism

Abstract

Introduction  As essential first responders, military firefighters faced a high occupational risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives  To analyse the incidence of and absenteeism due to SARS-CoV-2 infection among the entire cohort of military firefighters in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from March 2020 to March 2023.

Methods  Retrospective population-based cohort study (5,786 active-duty military personnel) using administrative data from the Integrated Health Management System of the Military Fire Department of Minas Gerais.

Results  A substantial disease burden was observed, with a cumulative incidence of 49.8% over the 3-year period. At the peak of the pandemic, the daily incidence rate among firefighters was approximately five times higher than that in the general population of Minas Gerais (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR] ≈ 5.0). Absenteeism due to confirmed and suspected cases had a significant operational impact, accounting for 24,653 lost working days in the first year of the pandemic alone.

Conclusion  Military firefighters experienced a disproportionately high impact from the pandemic, demonstrating their heightened occupational vulnerability. These findings underscore the urgent need to formally categorize firefighters as a high-risk group in public health policies and emergency preparedness plans to safeguard this vital workforce and ensure the operational capacity of community emergency services.

Keywords
COVID-19; Firefighters; Absenteeism; Occupational Health