Healthcare costs and effects of post-COVID-19 condition in Canada 2023 Rafferty et al

Healthcare costs and effects of post-COVID-19 condition in Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-hea...s-effects-post-covid-19-condition-canada.html

Abstract

Background: As evidence of the long-term health impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to grow across Canada, a key concern is the costs and health impacts of post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), especially while the healthcare system remains under substantial strain. The objective of this study is to estimate healthcare costs and quality-adjusted life year (QALY) decrements per PCC case and per acute COVID-19 case by vaccination status.

Methods: First, we conducted a rapid review of the literature to estimate 1) the probability of developing PCC following COVID-19 infection by vaccination status, 2) the probability of each condition commonly associated with PCC, 3) healthcare costs and QALY decrements associated with each condition and 4) the number of PCC cases currently in Canada. Second, using the data gathered from the literature, we built a tool to estimate the cost and QALY decrements per PCC and COVID-19 case.

Results: Post-COVID-19 condition costs per COVID-19 case ranged from CAD 1,675 to CAD 7,340, and QALY decrements ranged between 0.047 to 0.206, in the first year following COVID-19 infection. Overall, individuals who were unvaccinated when they were infected had higher costs and QALY decrements. We estimated the total burden of PCC to the Canadian healthcare system based on PCC estimates up until spring 2023 would be between CAD 7.8 and CAD 50.6 billion.

Conclusion: This article demonstrates the large potential health and economic burden of PCC for Canadians, and the importance of vaccination and other infection control strategies in reducing the longer-term costs and effects.

 

This is from last year but hasn't been posted.

I'm not sure why they put an upper limit of about $7K per year. If we take examples like me, of which I'm sure there are many in Long Covid, my costs are at least 3-4x higher than this, accounting for: loss of almost all taxes paid, disability support, medical care and additional costs. And that would be from an average wage, which puts it potentially at 10x this easily, at least as an upper bound.

 

Imagine if someone like Elon Musk were to develop ME, or even just LC. Sorry, no more Mars Colony, just too brainfogged.

Ohh, but he could delegate a Really, Genuinely Solve ME project. It's a good thing that wishing that someone would get <disease> doesn't work, because that would be so tempting.