The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) analysis indicates that long COVID affected about 5.3% of the total population across its member countries in 2021, equivalent to roughly 75 million people. Healthcare costs for long COVID hit $53 billion in 2021 at the peak of the pandemic, but the prevalence and associated healthcare costs have fallen since that height. The current prevalence rate in OECD countries beyond 2021 remains unclear, as does how the impact varies across different demographic groups such as age, gender, or pre-existing conditions.
Long COVID is characterized by a range of symptoms including fatigue, pain in muscles or joints, breathlessness, headaches, and brain fog. The condition generally improves over time, typically within the first nine months, but around 15 in 100 people still have symptoms after a year. Current evidence suggests long COVID is not a single disease but a cluster of related subtypes with potentially distinct risk factors and diverse biological mechanisms, according to the OECD report.
The economic consequences are significant, with long COVID impacting the economy through employment breaks, premature exit from the workplace, and reduced productivity. Long COVID will continue to dent workforce participation and productivity at a time of modest economic growth and population ageing, OECD report authors warn.
The OECD has issued warnings about declining attention to the issue, noting there are worrying signs of decreased political and financial attention to long COVID and other post-acute infection syndromes. What specific measures or policies are being proposed or implemented by OECD countries to address these costs is unknown, as are the details of the 'worrying signs' and which countries or entities are reducing focus. The projections for long COVID costs of $135 billion per year are based on OECD modeling, but how these calculations are made and what variables or assumptions are included remains unspecified. OECD report authors emphasize that sustained momentum is necessary, as addressing these conditions benefits both immediate patient-centred agendas and long-term preparedness for future pandemic scenarios.