The prevalence and impact of Long COVID in the primary care population

Long COVID is a condition developing after initial COVID-19 that results in a range of persistent symptoms, impacting physical and mental health, causing disability and reducing productivity. The OECD Patient-Reported Indicator Surveys (PaRIS) collected data from 2023 to 2024 from 107 011 primary care patients aged 45 years and older in 19 countries, and included specific questions related to Long COVID. According to PaRIS data, approximately 7% of primary care patients aged 45 years and older reported ever having Long COVID, while an estimated 5% reported living with persisting Long COVID symptoms at the time of survey. Patients living with Long COVID reported lower self-rated physical and mental health and poorer healthcare experiences compared to those without. Implementation of standard care pathways to improve coordination of diagnosis and management of Long COVID is needed to improve patient experiences. The long-term health and social impact of Long COVID remains uncertain, requiring continued surveillance and research to estimate the socioeconomic costs of the disease burden, in order to better inform health policy.