Employment situation in people with Long COVID: Analysis of associated sociodemographic and clinical factors.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26754/ojs_ais/accionesinvestigsoc.2023447420Keywords:
Long-COVID, temporary incapacity for work, Primary Health Care, Gender, quantitative studyAbstract
Introduction: The characteristic symptomatology of Long-COVID syndrome affects the physical and cognitive functioning of people who suffer from it, creating challenges when returning to their usual job. The objective of this study was to deepen the understanding of the employment status of people with this syndrome and its associated sociodemographic and clinical factors. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with the participation of 83 patients diagnosed with Long-COVID, over 18 years of age and attended by Primary Health Care in the Autonomous Community of Aragon. The main study variable was the employment status of the participants, in addition to collecting sociodemographic and clinical data through a structured interview. Subsequently, a descriptive, correlation and regression statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS Statistics program. Results: Of the 83 study participants, 55.4% were in an active employment situation, and 44.6% in a situation of temporary incapacity for work. A greater number of persistent symptoms and belonging to the male gender were predictors of a greater probability of being in a situation of temporary incapacity for work. Discussion: A large percentage of people with Long-COVID are on sick leave or temporary incapacity for work, which makes it necessary to develop prevention and action programs from socio-health care teams with the aim of these people not losing their jobs temporarily or permanently or, if this has already happened, return to their previous work situation as soon as possible.
Downloads
References
Abdelhafiz, A. S., Ali, A., Maaly, A. M., Mahgoub, M. A., Ziady, H. H., & Sultan, E. A. (2022). Predictors of post-COVID symptoms in Egyptian patients: Drugs used in COVID-19 treatment are incriminated. PLOS ONE, 17(3), e0266175. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0266175
Aiyegbusi, O. L., Hughes, S. E., Turner, G., Rivera, S. C., McMullan, C., Chandan, J. S., Haroon, S., Price, G., Davies, E. H., Nirantharakumar, K., Sapey, E., & Calvert, M. J. (2021). Symptoms, complications and management of long COVID: a review. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 114(9), 428–442. https://doi.org/10.1177/01410768211032850
Akhavan, S., Bildt, C. O., Franzén, E. C., & Wamala, S. (2004). Health in relation to unemployment and sick leave among immigrants in Sweden from a gender perspective. Journal of Immigrant Health, 6(3), 103–118. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOIH.0000030226.59785.38/METRICS
Barbulescu, R., & Bidwell, M. (2012). Do Women Choose Different Jobs from Men? Mechanisms of Application Segregation in the Market for Managerial Workers. Https://Doi.Org/10.1287/Orsc.1120.0757, 24(3), 737–756. https://doi.org/10.1287/ORSC.1120.0757
Bernklev, T., Jahnsen, J., Henriksen, M., Lygren, I., Aadland, E., Sauar, J., Schulz, T., Stray, N., Vatn, M., & Moum, B. (2006). Relationship between sick leave, unemployment, disability, and health-related quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 12(5), 402–412. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.MIB.0000218762.61217.4A
Berntson, E., & Marklund, S. (2007). The relationship between perceived employability and subsequent health, 21(3), 279–292. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678370701659215
Boot, C. R. L., Koppes, L. L. J., Van Den Bossche, S. N. J., Anema, J. R., & Van Der Beek, A. J. (2011). Relation between perceived health and sick leave in employees with a chronic illness. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 21(2), 211–219. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10926-010-9273-1/TABLES/4
Brehon, K., Niemeläinen, R., Hall, M., Bostick, G., Brown, C. A., Wieler, M., & Gross, D. P. (2022). Return-to-Work Following Occupational Rehabilitation for Long COVID: Descriptive Cohort Study. JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol, 9(3), e39883. https://doi.org/10.2196/39883
Castanares-Zapatero, D., Chalon, P., Kohn, L., Dauvrin, M., Detollenaere, J., Maertens de Noordhout, C., Primus-de Jong, C., Cleemput, I., & van den Heede, K. (2022). Pathophysiology and mechanism of long COVID: a comprehensive review. Annals of Medicine, 54(1), 1473–1487. https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2022.2076901
Ceban, F., Leber, A., Jawad, M. Y., Yu, M., Lui, L. M. W., Subramaniapillai, M., di Vincenzo, J. D., Gill, H., Rodrigues, N. B., Cao, B., Lee, Y., Lin, K., Mansur, R. B., Ho, R., Burke, M. J., Rosenblat, J. D., & McIntyre, R. S. (2022). Registered clinical trials investigating treatment of long COVID: a scoping review and recommendations for research. Infectious Diseases (London, England), 54(7), 467–477. https://doi.org/10.1080/23744235.2022.2043560
Davis, H. E., Assaf, G. S., McCorkell, L., Wei, H., Low, R. J., Re’em, Y., Redfield, S., Austin, J. P., & Akrami, A. (2021). Characterizing long COVID in an international cohort: 7 months of symptoms and their impact. EClinicalMedicine, 38, 101019. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ECLINM.2021.101019
Floderus, B., Göransson, S., Alexanderson, K., & Aronsson, G. (2005). Self-estimated life situation in patients on long-term sick leave. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 37(5), 291–299. https://doi.org/10.1080/16501970510034422
Godeau, D., Petit, A., Richard, I., Roquelaure, Y., & Descatha, A. (2021). Return-to-work, disabilities and occupational health in the age of COVID-19. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 47(5), 408. https://doi.org/10.5271/SJWEH.3960
Greenhalgh, T., Knight, M., A’Court, C., Buxton, M., & Husain, L. (2020). Management of post-acute covid-19 in primary care. BMJ, 370. https://doi.org/10.1136/BMJ.M3026
Hegewisch, A., & Hartmann, H. (2014). Occupational Segregation and the Gender Wage Gap: A Job Half Done. https://ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/79410
Hereth, B., Tubig, P., Sorrels, A., Muldoon, A., Hills, K., & Evans, N. G. (2022). Long covid and disability: a brave new world. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 378. https://doi.org/10.1136/BMJ-2021-069868
Herr, R. M., Delgado-Alonso, C., Cuevas, C., Oliver-Mas, S., Díez-Cirarda, M., Delgado-Álvarez, A., Gil-Moreno, J., Matías-Guiu, J., & Matias-Guiu, J. A. (2022). Fatigue and Cognitive Dysfunction Are Associated with Occupational Status in Post-COVID Syndrome. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20), 13368. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH192013368
Jandhyala, R. (2021). Design, validation and implementation of the post-acute (long) COVID-19 quality of life (PAC-19QoL) instrument. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 19(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12955-021-01862-1/FIGURES/1
López-Sampalo, A., Bernal-López, M. R., & Gómez-Huelgas, R. (2022). Síndrome de COVID-19 persistente. Una revisión narrativa. Revista Clínica Española, 222(4), 241–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RCE.2021.10.003
Madan, I., Briggs, T., & Graham, C. C. (2021). Supporting patients with long COVID return to work. British Journal of General Practice, 71(712), 508–509. https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP21X717533
Markussen, S. (2012). The individual cost of sick leave. Journal of Population Economics, 25(4), 1287–1306. https://doi.org/10.1007/S00148-011-0390-8/TABLES/4
Michelen, M., Manoharan, L., Elkheir, N., Cheng, V., Dagens, A., Hastie, C., O’Hara, M., Suett, J., Dahmash, D., Bugaeva, P., Rigby, I., Munblit, D., Harriss, E., Burls, A., Foote, C., Scott, J., Carson, G., Olliaro, P., Sigfrid, L., & Stavropoulou, C. (2021). Characterising long COVID: a living systematic review. BMJ Global Health, 6(9). https://doi.org/10.1136/BMJGH-2021-005427
Modini, M., Joyce, S., Mykletun, A., Christensen, H., Bryant, R. A., Mitchell, P. B., & Harvey, S. B. (2016). The mental health benefits of employment: Results of a systematic meta-review. Australasian Psychiatry, 24(4), 331–336. https://doi.org/10.1177/1039856215618523
NHS. (2022). Long-term effects of coronavirus (long COVID). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/long-term-effects-of-coronavirus-long-covid/
Noh, J. W., Kim, J., Park, J., Kim, H. J., & Kwon, Y. D. (2015). Gender Difference in Relationship between Health-Related Quality of Life and Work Status. PLOS ONE, 10(12), e0143579. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0143579
Nystuen, P., Hagen, K. B., & Herrin, J. (2016). Mental health problems as a cause of long-term sick leave in the Norwegian workforce. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 29(3), 175–182. https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948010290030301
Rajan, S., Khunti, K., Alwan, N., Steves, C., Greenhalgh, T., MacDermott, N., Sagan, A., & Mckee, M. (2021). In the wake of the pandemic: preparing for Long COVID. https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/publications-and-technical-guidance/2021/in-the-wake-of-the-pandemic-preparing-for-long-covid-2021
Rajan, S., Khunti, K., Alwan, N., Steves, C., MacDermott, N., Morsella, A., Angulo, E., Winkelmann, J., Bryndová, L., Fronteira, I., Gandré, C., Or, Z., Gerkens, S., Sagan, A., Simões, J., Ricciardi, W., Belvis, A. G. de, Silenzi, A., Bernal-Delgado, E., … McKee, M. (2021). In the wake of the pandemic. Health Systems and Policy Analysis, (Policy Brief, No. 39.). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK569598/
Raveendran, A. v., Jayadevan, R., & Sashidharan, S. (2021). Long COVID: An overview. Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews, 15(3), 869–875. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.DSX.2021.04.007
Rodriguez-Sanchez, I., Rodriguez-Mañas, L., & Laosa, O. (2022). Long COVID-19: The Need for an Interdisciplinary Approach. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 38(3), 533–544. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CGER.2022.03.005
Ruiz Pérez, I., Ubago Linares, M. C., Bermejo Pérez, M. J., Plazaola Castaño, J., Olry De Labry-Lima, A., & Hernández Torres, E. (2007). Diferencias en características sociodemográficas, clínicas y psicológicas entre hombres y mujeres diagnosticados de fibromialgia. Revista Clínica Española, 207(9), 433–439. https://doi.org/10.1157/13109832
Sociedad Española de Médicos Generales y de Familia (SEMG). Colectivo de pacientes Long Covid ACTS. (2020). Encuesta de síntomas y discapacidad producida por los mismos, en los afectados por COVID persistente. https://www.semg.es/images/2020/Noticias/20201111_Resultados_Encuesta_COVID_Persistente.pdf
Sörensen, L. E., Pekkonen, M. M., Männikkö, K. H., Louhevaara, V. A., Smolander, J., & Alén, M. J. (2008). Associations between work ability, health-related quality of life, physical activity and fitness among middle-aged men. Applied Ergonomics, 39(6), 786–791. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APERGO.2007.11.001
Tíscar-González, V., Sánchez-Gómez, S., Lafuente Martínez, A., Peña Serrano, A., Twose López, M., Díaz Alonso, S., Bartolomé-Rupérez, M., Portuondo-Jiménez, J., & Zorrilla-Martínez, I. (2022). [Experiences and impact on the quality of life of people with long COVID]. Gaceta Sanitaria, 37, 102247. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.GACETA.2022.102247
Torjesen, I. (2021). Covid-19: Middle aged women face greater risk of debilitating long term symptoms. BMJ, 372, n829. https://doi.org/10.1136/BMJ.N829
Vaes, A. W., Machado, F. V. C., Meys, R., Delbressine, J. M., Goertz, Y. M. J., van Herck, M., Houben-Wilke, S., Franssen, F. M. E., Vijlbrief, H., Spies, Y., van ’t Hul, A. J., Burtin, C., Janssen, D. J. A., & Spruit, M. A. (2020). Care Dependency in Non-Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19. Journal of Clinical Medicine 9(9), 2946. https://doi.org/10.3390/JCM9092946
van Kessel, S. A. M., Olde Hartman, T. C., Lucassen, P. L. B. J., & van Jaarsveld, C. H. M. (2022). Post-acute and long-COVID-19 symptoms in patients with mild diseases: a systematic review. Family Practice, 39(1), 159–167. https://doi.org/10.1093/FAMPRA/CMAB076
Vingård, E., Alexanderson, K., & Norlund, A. (2016). Chapter 9. Consequences of being on sick leave. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 32(63), 207–215. https://doi.org/10.1080/14034950410021899
Westerlind, E., Palstam, A., Sunnerhagen, K. S., & Persson, H. C. (2021). Patterns and predictors of sick leave after Covid-19 and long Covid in a national Swedish cohort. BMC Public Health, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/S12889-021-11013-2
Ziauddeen, N., Gurdasani, D., O’Hara, M. E., Hastie, C., Roderick, P., Yao, G., & Alwan, N. A. (2022). Characteristics and impact of Long Covid: Findings from an online survey. PLOS ONE, 17(3), e0264331. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0264331
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Sandra León Herrera, Mario Samper-Pardo, Angela Asensio-Martínez
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors publishing in this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right to be the first publication of the work as well as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 license that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors may separately establish additional agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (e.g., placing it in an institutional repository or publishing it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are allowed and encouraged to disseminate their papers electronically (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their own website) before and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and higher citation of published papers (see The Effect of Open Access).
Accepted 2023-04-14
Published 2023-11-14
