@article{Rhead_R-2024_171685,
title = {Long COVID and financial outcomes: evidence from four longitudinal population surveys},
author = {Rhead, R. and Wels, J. and Moltrecht, B. and Shaw, R. and Silverwood, R. and Zhu, J. and Hughes, A. and Chaturvedi, N. and Demou, E. and Katikireddi, S. and Ploubidis, G.},
month = {mar},
year = {2024},
abstract = {Background: Long-term sequelae of COVID-19 (long COVID) include muscle weakness, fatigue, breathing difficulties and sleep disturbance over weeks or months. Using UK longitudinal data, we assessed the relationship between long COVID and financial disruption. Methods: We estimated associations between long COVID (derived using self-reported length of COVID-19 symptoms) and measures of financial disruption (subjective financial well-being, new benefit claims, changes in household income) by analysing data from four longitudinal population studies, gathered during the first year of the pandemic. We employed modified Poisson regression in a pooled analysis of the four cohorts adjusting for a range of potential confounders, including pre-pandemic (pre-long COVID) factors. Results: Among the 20 112 observations across four population surveys, 13% reported having COVID-19 with symptoms that impeded their ability to function normally—10.7% had such symptoms for &lt;4 weeks (acute COVID-19), 1.2% had such symptoms for 4–12 weeks (ongoing symptomatic COVID-19) and 0.6% had such symptoms for &gt;12 weeks (post-COVID-19 syndrome). We found that post-COVID-19 syndrome was associated with worse subjective financial well-being (adjusted relative risk ratios (aRRRs)=1.57, 95% CI=1.25, 1.96) and new benefit claims (aRRR=1.79, CI=1.27, 2.53). Associations were broadly similar across sexes and education levels. These results were not meaningfully altered when scaled to represent the population by age. Conclusions: Long COVID was associated with financial disruption in the UK. If our findings reflect causal effects, extending employment protection and financial support to people with long COVID may be warranted.},
journal = {Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health},
publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2023-221059},
}
