Long COVID Substantially Increases healthcare Costs, Study Finds
A recent study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine reveals that individuals diagnosed with Long COVID incur healthcare costs more then double those experienced before contracting COVID-19. The research,analyzing data from 282,080 individuals with Long COVID between January 2020 and January 2023,highlights the substantial strain the condition places on healthcare systems.
The study compared Long COVID patients to various control groups, including over a million people who had COVID-19 but not Long COVID, who had median healthcare costs of £447 per year. Researchers found that those with Long COVID experienced significantly higher rates of hospitalization over a two-year period, alongside increased utilization of healthcare services.Specifically, Long COVID patients had a median of 9.90 GP consultations and 1.07 outpatient appointments annually – exceeding all control groups. They also demonstrated higher emergency department attendance and significantly more inpatient admissions than all but one control group.
“Long COVID is a debilitating disease for patients,presenting in a myriad of ways,with far-reaching implications for those affected,” explained Dr. Yi Mu, joint first author of the study from the Institute of Health Informatics at University College London. “In this context,it is understandable that people with Long COVID have complex healthcare needs and access services significantly more than others.”
The study quantified the financial impact, finding increased demand across all levels of care – from GPs to emergency departments. The average age of participants was 48, with the 40-59 age group being the most represented. There were no important differences observed based on social deprivation, with roughly 20% of participants falling into both the most and least deprived categories. The North-west of England, London, and the South-west regions had the highest representation in the study.
Dr. Ashkan Dashtban,also a joint first author from the Institute of Health Informatics at University College London,emphasized the urgency of the situation.”Health systems have been under strain from the impact of Long COVID, stretching staff and infrastructure. Government and policy makers must take immediate action. The treatment and prevention of Long COVID must be prioritized in research, practice and policy.”
Researchers attribute the high costs and debilitating nature of Long COVID to its complex and heterogeneous nature, affecting multiple organs through likely multiple underlying mechanisms. Despite scientific progress, the syndrome remains incompletely defined.
source: Royal Society of Medicine. Mu, Y., et al. (2024). healthcare utilisation of 282,080 individuals with long COVID over two years: a multiple matched control, longitudinal cohort analysis. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. doi: 10.1177/01410768241288345. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01410768241288345
