Determinants of functional capacity and work ability post SARS-COV-2 infection in miners

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dc.contributor.advisorJeebhay, Mohamed
dc.contributor.advisorNtatamala, Itumeleng
dc.contributor.authorNdlovu, Vusimuzi
dc.date.accessioned2026-01-13T07:17:57Z
dc.date.available2026-01-13T07:17:57Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.updated2026-01-12T08:06:05Z
dc.description.abstractBackground: Insufficient data exists on the sequelae of COVID-19 and its impact on function and work ability among workers. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of functional capacity and work ability in miners following COVID-19 disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 204 mine workers employed at a ferromanganese mine in the Northern Cape province of South Africa with a confirmed laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 within the past 12 months. Study instruments included a socio-demographic questionnaire, Post COVID-19 Functional Scale (PCFS), Work Ability Index (WAI), chest radiograph and the Two-minute Walk Test (TMWT). Data analysis was done using STATA version 16 to generate univariate and multivariate quantile regression models. Results: The majority (74%) of the participants were males with a mean age of 38.8 years and employed in the mining department (46%) as operators. A third were current smokers (35%), and obese (36%). The most commonly reported acute COVID-19 symptoms were sore throat (56%), cough (43%), and anosmia (34%). Almost all the participants had reported having two or more episodes of COVID-19 which was of a mild form (64%). Most (86%) returned to work within 14 days of diagnosis. None of the miners had an abnormal PCFS score, nor did they have poor WAI scores. Aside from living arrangements (living with a spouse), none of the socio-demographic or occupational factors were associated with COVID-19 disease severity. Unlike for COVID-19 disease, female sex was significantly associated (p<0.001) with poor performance on the TMWT in the simple regression models. After adjusting for disease severity and sex in the multivariate models, no significant association was observed between COVID-19 disease and the TMWT distance. Conclusion: This study found limited evidence of impaired functional capacity and work ability in miners following COVID-19 disease within one year of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, only female sex, but not COVID-19 was associated with impaired functional ability.
dc.identifier.apacitationNdlovu, V. (2025). <i>Determinants of functional capacity and work ability post SARS-COV-2 infection in miners</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42546en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationNdlovu, Vusimuzi. <i>"Determinants of functional capacity and work ability post SARS-COV-2 infection in miners."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42546en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationNdlovu, V. 2025. Determinants of functional capacity and work ability post SARS-COV-2 infection in miners. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42546en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Ndlovu, Vusimuzi AB - Background: Insufficient data exists on the sequelae of COVID-19 and its impact on function and work ability among workers. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of functional capacity and work ability in miners following COVID-19 disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 204 mine workers employed at a ferromanganese mine in the Northern Cape province of South Africa with a confirmed laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 within the past 12 months. Study instruments included a socio-demographic questionnaire, Post COVID-19 Functional Scale (PCFS), Work Ability Index (WAI), chest radiograph and the Two-minute Walk Test (TMWT). Data analysis was done using STATA version 16 to generate univariate and multivariate quantile regression models. Results: The majority (74%) of the participants were males with a mean age of 38.8 years and employed in the mining department (46%) as operators. A third were current smokers (35%), and obese (36%). The most commonly reported acute COVID-19 symptoms were sore throat (56%), cough (43%), and anosmia (34%). Almost all the participants had reported having two or more episodes of COVID-19 which was of a mild form (64%). Most (86%) returned to work within 14 days of diagnosis. None of the miners had an abnormal PCFS score, nor did they have poor WAI scores. Aside from living arrangements (living with a spouse), none of the socio-demographic or occupational factors were associated with COVID-19 disease severity. Unlike for COVID-19 disease, female sex was significantly associated (p<0.001) with poor performance on the TMWT in the simple regression models. After adjusting for disease severity and sex in the multivariate models, no significant association was observed between COVID-19 disease and the TMWT distance. Conclusion: This study found limited evidence of impaired functional capacity and work ability in miners following COVID-19 disease within one year of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, only female sex, but not COVID-19 was associated with impaired functional ability. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - SARS-COV-2 KW - Miners KW - Post COVID-19 syndrome KW - Functional capacity KW - Work ability LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - Determinants of functional capacity and work ability post SARS-COV-2 infection in miners TI - Determinants of functional capacity and work ability post SARS-COV-2 infection in miners UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42546 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/42546
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationNdlovu V. Determinants of functional capacity and work ability post SARS-COV-2 infection in miners. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42546en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicine
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectSARS-COV-2
dc.subjectMiners
dc.subjectPost COVID-19 syndrome
dc.subjectFunctional capacity
dc.subjectWork ability
dc.titleDeterminants of functional capacity and work ability post SARS-COV-2 infection in miners
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
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