Recent research led by Dr. Danielle Lamb, Senior Research Fellow at University College London’s Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, underscores the ongoing prevalence of COVID-19 and its implications for Long COVID among healthcare workers. Dr. Lamb emphasizes, “COVID-19 has not gone away. We know that more infections mean more people are at risk of developing Long COVID.” This finding raises significant concerns regarding the health and social care sector, particularly affecting older and female workers, as well as those with pre-existing physical and mental health conditions.
The study highlights a collaborative approach that involved a Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) panel composed of 16 healthcare workers living with Long COVID. This panel played a crucial role in shaping the research design, formulating study questions, and interpreting results, ensuring that the research remains relevant to the affected population. Dr. Brendan Dempsey, the study’s Co-Lead, remarked on the value of this collaboration, stating, “Collaborating with the healthcare workers who formed our PPIE group has been really important in making sure that we are conducting research that is relevant to them.”
Data collected from over 5,000 healthcare workers over a span of 32 months revealed several potential risk factors for Long COVID, including gender, age (particularly those between 51 and 60 years), direct exposure to COVID-19 patients, and pre-existing respiratory or mental health issues. Alarmingly, the research also indicates a lack of formal diagnosis in those exhibiting Long COVID symptoms, which suggests that many healthcare professionals may not be seeking necessary care. The authors of the study advocate for urgent reforms in diagnostic practices and support accessibility for those impacted within the healthcare sector.
This pivotal research was funded by The Colt Foundation and supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration North Thames, carried out in partnership with King’s College London and 18 NHS Trusts. The findings serve as a clarion call for enhanced understanding and support mechanisms for healthcare workers battling Long COVID, highlighting the crucial intersection of biomedical, psychological, and social factors in their experiences.
