Overview

• Individuals with long COVID faced more than threefold higher odds of moderate-to-high financial toxicity compared to those whose symptoms resolved and over fivefold higher odds compared to those never experiencing long COVID.
• Nearly half of participants still reporting long COVID symptoms at three years had not returned to full-time work.
• The analysis drew on self-reported data from more than 3,600 adults in the CDC-funded INSPIRE registry across eight U.S. academic medical centers.
• Prior COVID-19 vaccination was associated with significantly lower rates of work impairment and financial distress among study participants.
• Study authors attribute financial strain to medical expenses, job loss, reduced work hours and lower productivity and urge strengthened workplace and disability policies.