Relationship between Commuting Distance Using Public Transportation and the Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Healthcare Workers in Japan: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the association between commuting distance using public transportation and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody-positivity among medical staff at a cardiovascular medical institution in Japan. Information on the commuting distance using public transportation, grouped into none, short (<11.3 km; median), and long (≥11.3 km); demographics; and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure were cross-sectionally collected from 956 employees in June 2022. SARS-CoV-2 antibody-positivity was defined based on serological tests for the nucleocapsid protein antigen. Among all participants (mean age 36 years; 68.6% female), 118 (12.3%) had SARS-CoV-2 antibody-positivity. Participants with long commuting distances were more likely to have ≥3 household members. Compared with non-use of public transportation, neither short nor long commuting distances by public transportation were associated with antibody-positivity (adjusted odds ratio 1.18 [95% confidence interval 0.70-1.98] and 1.62 [0.97-2.71], respectively). In participants with ≤2 household members (n = 706 [73.8%]; mean age 37 years; 72.4% female), a long commuting distance was associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity compared with non-use of public transportation (1.98 [1.02-3.84]). In conclusion, commuting distance using public transportation was not associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody-positivity in general; however, it may be relevant among healthcare workers with fewer household members.

Keywords: Commuting; Healthcare Workers; Public Transportation; SARS-CoV-2; Seroprevalence.