Financial Hardships Associated With Long COVID Across Income and Education Levels

A study published in Health Services Research analyzing data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) has revealed a significant association between long COVID and financial hardships.

The study included 271 076 adults and used multivariable binomial logistic regression models to examine association between long COVID and financial instability across different income and education levels. Long COVID was defined according to criteria from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), where patients experience persistent symptoms lasting 3 months or longer. Employment-related mediators, such as job loss and reduced work hours, were also assessed to understand their contribution to financial challenges.

The findings indicated that patients with long COVID experienced a 1% to 11% increase in the likelihood of financial hardships across most economic groups. In particular, lower-income households with income-to-poverty ratios (IPRs) below 2.00 were particularly vulnerable, exhibiting the highest prevalence of financial distress. Individuals in higher income and education groups also experienced a 1% increase in the likelihood of facing financial hardships, and those in the highest education group faced a 4% increase. A mediation analysis revealed that employment loss or reduced work hours accounted for 6% to 20% of the observed financial hardships, highlighting the economic burden long COVID has on patients’ livelihoods.

The study faced certain limitations, such as the cross-sectional nature of the data and reliance on self-reported measures. Despite some constraints, the research underscores the need for understanding long COVID’s specific and persistent economic repercussions to address socioeconomic disparities. The researchers suggested targeted policy interventions to mitigate these effects in addition to enhanced health care services and further research to improve the treatment of long COVID.

“Our findings suggest that long COVID influenced the economic wellbeing of individuals from all SES categories while households at IPR < 2.00 were hit especially hard,” the researchers concluded. “This, coupled with the fact that lower income groups had a disproportionately high share of long COVID cases indicate the need for targeted assistance programs aimed at protecting the poorest groups from long COVID-related hardships and thereby improving health equity.”

Reference

Datta BK, Fazlul I, Khan MM. Long COVID and financial hardship: a disaggregated analysis at income and education levels. Health Serv Res. Published online December 2, 2024. doi:10.1111/1475-6773.14413