A study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that about 11% of healthcare workers experienced persistent long COVID symptoms six months after contracting the virus. The research, led by University of Iowa investigators, followed roughly 1,600 healthcare workers who had COVID-19 between August 2022 and May 2024, surveying them at three and six months after illness.
Persistent symptoms were defined as the same moderate or severe symptoms reported at both time points. While 11.3% met that definition, a larger share reported moderate or severe symptoms at a single time point: nearly 20% at three months and 27.6% at six months. Older workers, female workers, and those with underlying health conditions were more likely to report long COVID symptoms.
Contrary to the researchers' initial hypothesis, recent COVID-19 vaccination showed no significant association with persistent long COVID symptoms. The authors warn the burden could affect workforce sustainability, potentially requiring accommodations, reduced hours, modified schedules, or role changes for affected staff—an added complication for healthcare organizations already struggling to maintain staffing.