Dive Brief:
- Healthcare workers battled lingering symptoms of long COVID years after they were disproportionately exposed to the virus during the pandemic, according to a new study published last week.
- Long COVID symptoms lingered for six months post-infection in about 11% of healthcare workers, according to a study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. Older workers, female workers and those with underlying health conditions were more likely to report long COVID symptoms, according to the study.
- Researchers found no significant association between recent COVID-19 vaccination and persistent long COVID symptoms among healthcare personnel, contrary to their initial hypothesis.
Dive Insight:
The study builds on reports indicating that the healthcare workforce remains burdened by COVID-19 more than three years after the public health emergency ended.
Although there is not yet an agreed-upon definition in the scientific community, long COVID is generally understood as a chronic condition in which COVID-19 symptoms return after the initial illness and persist for more than three months. Symptoms vary widely but can include brain fog, fatigue, shortness of breath and joint or muscle pain.
The study, led by University of Iowa researchers, comprised roughly 1,600 participants who contracted COVID-19 between August 2022 and May 2024 and who completed surveys at three and six months after a COVID-19 illness.
The primary outcome of persistent long COVID symptoms was defined as the presence of the same moderate or severe symptoms reported at both time points, although a larger percentage reported moderate or severe symptoms at either time point.
In all, nearly 20% of healthcare workers with confirmed COVID-19 test results reported moderate or severe symptoms three months later, and that percentage increased to 27.6% at six months. The percentage of respondents who reported persistent moderate or severe symptoms at both times stood at 11.3%.
According to the researchers, the study indicates a “potential to place substantial burden on this essential workforce long after the initial infection.”
And, at a time when healthcare organizations are struggling to maintain a stable workforce and bring in new employees to meet growing demands, that could be a critical complication.
The results “suggest there may be an impact on healthcare workforce sustainability, through possible needs for accommodations, reduced hours, modified schedules, or role changes,” the study noted.
