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Yamamoto JJ, Brandley ET, Ulrich TC. Flight attendant occupational nutrition and lifestyle factors associated with COVID-19 incidence. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):24502doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04350-0.
Yamamoto, J. J., Brandley, E. T., & Ulrich, T. C. (2021). Flight attendant occupational nutrition and lifestyle factors associated with COVID-19 incidence. Scientific reports, 11(1), 24502. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04350-0
Yamamoto, Jessica J, et al. "Flight attendant occupational nutrition and lifestyle factors associated with COVID-19 incidence." Scientific reports vol. 11,1 (2021): 24502. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04350-0
Yamamoto JJ, Brandley ET, Ulrich TC. Flight attendant occupational nutrition and lifestyle factors associated with COVID-19 incidence. Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 30;11(1):24502. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04350-0. PMID: 34969961.
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Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 30;11(1):24502. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04350-0.

Flight attendant occupational nutrition and lifestyle factors associated with COVID-19 incidence.

Scientific reports

Jessica J Yamamoto, Elizabeth T Brandley, Trina C Ulrich

Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Studies, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA. [email protected].
  2. Department of Health Studies, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA.

PMID: 34969961 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04350-0

Abstract

In the era of COVID-19, essential workers are plagued with unforeseen and obfuscated challenges. Flight attendants are a unique subgroup of essential workers who face a multitude of health risks attributed to occupational exposures that are accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such risks can be ameliorated with strategies that target factors which enhance COVID-19 risk, including modifiable factors of diet and lifestyle. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to detect occupational dietary and lifestyle factors which could increase COVID-19 incidence amongst flight attendants. To identify potential risk factors, a questionnaire was administered to eighty-four flight attendants and examined the participants' diet and lifestyle, and COVID-19 incidence. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression indicated that the participants' perceived dietary quality at work (p = 0.003), sleep disruptions which impacted their consumption of a healthy diet (p = 0.013), job tenure (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.46:0.98) and frequency of reported cold/flu (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.014-2.189) were all factors associated with confirmed/suspected COVID-19 incidence. This study also revealed that a lack of infrastructure for food storage and time limitations are considerable occupational barriers for flight attendants to consume healthy foods. Additional investigation can further elucidate these relationships and related solutions to mitigate COVID-19 risk in the future.

© 2021. The Author(s).

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