What is the cost impact of Long COVID on employment and caring responsibilities?

This evidence summary looked at the cost impacts of long COVID on employment and caring responsibilities.  This was a question that came up during a previous review into the cost impacts of COVID on NHS and social care services. Long COVID is where persistent signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in adults and children continue for more than four weeks after an acute COVID-19 infection. 

There was very limited evidence found of the cost impact of long COVID on employment and caring responsibilities.  One study reported impacts on employment and found that:

• Overall, 33.5% of respondents returned to work in the same capacity as before contracting acute COVID-19. 26.2% restarted on a part-time basis and 38% did not return to their job due to their health status after contracting acute COVID-19
• This percentage of people not returning to work due to their health status after contracting acute COVID-19 was higher amongst those that had been hospitalised with COVID-19.

The same study reported on the support needs for people living with long COVID-19 and the need for people to take on caring responsibilities:

• Hospitalisation with COVID-19 meant a higher need for help with activities of daily living.
• Duration of symptoms also meant a higher need for help with activities of daily living with those with a duration of symptoms over 6 months needing more frequent help.
• Very limited support was provided by professional caregivers.
• 65% of support needs were met by informal caregivers.

It is recommended that further research is conducted into the cost impact of Long COVID on employment and caring responsibilities. 

It is hoped that the results of 4 studies that were commissioned and funded in 2021 by the NIHR and UKRI will provide evidence on the cost impacts of Long COVID.

Read the full report

Summary author: Alexandra Strong