A recent study from UCL researchers reveals that lost working days due to long Covid could be costing the economy billions of pounds annually, as affected individuals face difficulties managing their symptoms and returning to their jobs.
The research, published in BMJ Open and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), focused on the effects of long Covid on 4,087 patients referred to long Covid clinics and enrolled in the Living With Covid Recovery (LWCR) programme between August 2020 and August 2022.
As part of their NHS treatment, patients utilized a mobile app to monitor their symptoms.
Participants filled out questionnaires via the app regarding how long Covid impacted their everyday life, fatigue levels, cognitive clarity, quality of life, social interactions, and work capability.
The findings indicated that, on average, those referred to long Covid clinics in the UK reported minimal improvement in their daily functioning, fatigue, quality of life, and work ability during the first six months after seeking assistance for their symptoms.
Approximately 72% of those experiencing lost working days when they began using the app, and who continued to engage with it, reported still losing workdays after six months. Moreover, over a third (36%) of this group were completely unable to work.
The researchers highlighted that the financial impact of long Covid is mainly driven by productivity losses, averaging £931 per patient each month throughout the six-month study period.
This estimate was based on the national average hourly wage (£13.57) and the typical weekly working hours (33.9 hours).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that approximately two million people in the UK are affected by long Covid, suggesting that this condition poses a substantial financial burden on society.
Senior author, Professor Manuel Gomes (UCL Epidemiology & Health Care), noted, “The costs of lost workdays could amount to an estimated £20 billion (£931 multiplied by two million people and then by 12 months) annually.”
“It’s important to remember that our patient sample likely includes those who are more symptomatic or impaired than the average long Covid patient. However, even if just 10% of all long Covid patients in the UK were severely affected, the cost would still reach £2 billion per year.”
The study also revealed that around 46.3% of long Covid patients experienced significant functional impairment after six months, underscoring the ongoing challenges in recovering from long Covid.
These findings build on the team’s previous research demonstrating that long Covid can significantly affect fatigue and quality of life, often more severely than some types of cancer.
Professor William Henley (University of Exeter) commented, “The enduring functional impairment and diminished quality of life faced by long Covid patients over time greatly impacts their work capabilities and represents a serious economic challenge for both individuals and the broader economy.”
“It should be a priority for future healthcare strategies to tackle the ongoing issues related to fatigue and its influence on work absenteeism to aid the recovery of those suffering from long Covid.”
The study was conducted in partnership with researchers from the University of Exeter, Barts Health NHS Trust, the University of Southampton, and Living With.
