Study: Prolonged COVID symptoms more likely for healthcare workers

Editor's Note

Long COVID strikes healthcare and dental workers at far higher rates than the general population, according to an April 23 article from the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota.

As detailed in the article, two recent international studies reveal that 40% of healthcare workers and 23% of dental professionals have experienced lingering symptoms following a COVID-19 infection, far exceeding the estimated 8% prevalence in the US public.

The first study—a meta-analysis published in BMJ Public Health—pooled data from 28 studies involving 6,481 healthcare workers worldwide, CIDRAP reports. During an average follow-up of 22 weeks, 40% of healthcare workers who had contracted COVID-19 experienced prolonged symptoms such as fatigue, neurologic issues, loss of smell or taste, muscle aches, and shortness of breath. In studies tracking workers after 12 months, prevalence declined to 26%. Authors of the analysis noted that the combined risks of viral exposure and high workplace stress may heighten long-term impacts for this group, underscoring the need for targeted support and interventions.

The second study, published in Nature: Scientific Reports, surveyed 267 staff from 186 dental practices in Germany and found a 23% prevalence of long COVID among dental professionals. As detailed in the article, auxiliary staff such as assistants and hygienists had higher rates of long COVID than dentists, and vaccination rates were also lower among these groups. As in healthcare workers, the most frequent symptoms included exhaustion, fatigue, and poor concentration. The study observed a 10% lower incidence of long COVID in vaccinated dental team members, although the authors cautioned that the sample size limited definitive conclusions about vaccine protection.