The NHS Health and Race Observatory has revealed how long Covid affects UK NHS healthcare workers (HCWs) across diverse ethnic groups and job roles.
The long-term REACH-OUT study in collaboration with UK-REACH involved more than 5000 HCWs. It included staff who identified as Asian, Black, mixed and ‘other’; during the early stage of the pandemic, 63% of HCW deaths were among ethnic minority groups.
Key findings show:
- The most frequently reported long Covid symptoms among HCWs include fatigue (35%), neurological symptoms such as brain fog and headaches (25%), loss of taste and/or smell (25%), muscle pain (22%), and shortness of breath (19%).
- Female HCWs, those with pre-existing health conditions, severe initial Covid-19, and those in nursing, allied-health or administrative roles were more likely to experience long Covid. HCWs who had more Covid vaccinations were at lower risk
- Up to 27% of UK HCWs reported symptoms lasting 12 weeks or more, with global studies showing similar trends.
‘Healthcare workers are the NHS’s greatest asset, and their wellbeing is critical to delivering safe and high-quality care,’ said Professor Manish Pareek, clinical professor, infectious diseases, and chief investigator of UK-REACH and REACH-OUT, University of Leicester. ‘The REACH-OUT study provides vital evidence to help us better understand long Covid and develop the support HCWs need to remain healthy and able to work.’
Image | ISTOCK
