Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-29-2024
Abstract
While the early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the United States labor market are well-established, less is known about the long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection and Long COVID on employment. To address this gap, we analyzed self-reported data from a prospective, national cohort study to estimate the effects of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms at three months post-infection on missed workdays and return to work. The analysis included 2,939 adults in the Innovative Support for Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infections Registry (INSPIRE) study who tested positive for their initial SARS-CoV-2 infection at the time of enrollment, were employed before the pandemic, and completed a baseline and three-month electronic survey. At three months post-infection, 40.8% of participants reported at least one SARS-CoV-2 symptom and 9.6% of participants reported five or more SARS-CoV-2 symptoms. When asked about missed work due to their SARS-CoV-2 infection at three months, 7.2% of participants reported missing ≥10 workdays and 13.9% of participants reported not returning to work since their infection. At three months, participants with ≥5 symptoms had a higher adjusted odds ratio of missing ≥10 workdays (2.96, 95% CI 1.81-4.83) and not returning to work (2.44, 95% CI 1.58-3.76) compared to those with no symptoms. Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 symptoms were common, affecting 4-in-10 participants at three-months post-infection, and were associated with increased odds of work loss, most pronounced among adults with ≥5 symptoms at three months. Despite the end of the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 and efforts to "return to normal", policymakers must consider the clinical and economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on people's employment status and work absenteeism, particularly as data characterizing the numerous health and well-being impacts of Long COVID continue to emerge. Improved understanding of risk factors for lost work time may guide efforts to support people in returning to work.
Recommended Citation
Venkatesh, Arjun K; Yu, Huihui; Malicki, Caitlin; Gottlieb, Michael; Elmore, Joann G; Hill, Mandy J; Idris, Ahamed H; Montoy, Juan Carlos C; O'Laughlin, Kelli N; Rising, Kristin L.; Stephens, Kari A; Spatz, Erica S; and Weinstein, Robert A, "The Association Between Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 Symptoms and Work Outcomes" (2024). Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers. Paper 244.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/emfp/244
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
PubMed ID
39074096
Language
English
Comments
This article is the author's final published version in PLoS ONE, Volume 19, Issue 7, July 2024.
The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300947.
Copyright © 2024 Venkatesh et al.