EPH86 Increased Healthcare Resources Utilization and Costs of Long COVID in Community-Managed Adult Patients in France
Abstract
Objectives:
To compare healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and direct and indirect costs between patients with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection who developed long-COVID, patients with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection who did not develop long-COVID, and contemporaneous controls without SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the electronic records of confirmed and/or probable COVID-19 patients in the primary care setting from The Health Improvement Network (THIN) data between 03/2020 and 08/2023. Long-COVID was defined per World Health Organization (WHO) as suggestive symptoms present ≥3 months following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Propensity score matching on age, gender, duration of follow-up, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and BMI was conducted. Patient characteristics, HCRU and costs of each cohort were summarized.
Results:
A total of 74,820 patients requesting medical attention were included, 24,940 in each cohort. The mean (SD) age was 51(±17) years with 77% aged <65 years, 63% were female and 30% had a CCI >2. Average follow-up was 17 months. HCRU and costs were the highest in patients with long COVID during the first year following acute infection, with per-patient-per-year cost of €2,223. Comparing those who developed long-COVID vs not, long-COVID patients had the highest costs due to sick leaves (€180 higher), followed by medication use in retail pharmacies (€137 higher) and GP consultations (€55 higher). Comparing those who developed long-COVID vs never infected with acute COVID, long-COVID patients had the highest costs due to retail pharmacy use (€152 higher), followed by sick leaves (€120 higher) and GP consultations (€60 higher).
Conclusions:
HCRU and costs are higher among patients identified with long COVID following acute infections in France, highlighting the societal burden of long COVID and the importance of long-term management of COVID.