Rhead, R. et al. (2024) Long COVID and financial outcomes: evidence from four longitudinal population surveys. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, (doi: 10.1136/jech-2023-221059) (PMID:38508701) (Early Online Publication)
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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 <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 >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.
| Item Type: | Articles |
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| Additional Information: | This work was supported by the National Core Studies, an initiative funded by UKRI, NIHR and the Health and Safety Executive. The COVID-19 Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing National Core Study was funded by the Medical Research Council (MC_PC_20030). MCS, NS, NCDS and BCS are supported by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Resource Centre 2015-20 grant (ES/M001660/1) and a host of other co-founders. The COVID-19 data collections in these four cohorts were funded by the UKRI grant Understanding the economic, social and health impacts of COVID-19 using lifetime data: evidence from 5 nationally representative UK cohorts (ES/V012789/1). RR acknowledges funding from the Medical Research Council (MR/W021277/1). RJS, ED and SVK acknowledge funding from the Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00022/2) and the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (SPHSU17). SVK acknowledges funding from an NRS Senior Clinical Fellowship (SCAF/15/02) and additional funding from the European Research Council (949582). JW is funded by the Belgian National Scientific Fund (FNRS) Research Associate Fellowship (CQ) no. 40010931. |
| Keywords: | COVID-19, long COVID, employment, income, social benefits. |
| Status: | Early Online Publication |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Katikireddi, Professor Vittal and Shaw, Dr Richard and Demou, Dr Evangelia |
| Authors: | Rhead, R., Wels, J., Moltrecht, B., Shaw, R. J., Silverwood, R., Zhu, J., Hughes, A., Chaturvedi, N., Demou, E., Katikireddi, S. V., and Ploubidis, G. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU |
| Journal Name: | Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health |
| Publisher: | BMJ Publishing Group |
| ISSN: | 0143-005X |
| ISSN (Online): | 1470-2738 |
| Published Online: | 20 March 2024 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024 |
| First Published: | First published in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2024 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons license |
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