The hardest hit were those aged 30 to 49.
The researchers found this group lost 52 million worked hours, or more than half of all the hours lost across the economy in 2022. People in their 20s lost almost 21 million hours, while those in their 50s lost 17.7 million hours.
They noted there were probably hundreds of thousands of people dealing with long COVID, with between 0.7 per cent and 3.67 per cent of all sufferers not recovering from the virus within 12 months.
Unlike heart disease, which is more likely to affect older Australians, long COVID hits people in their prime working ages.
“Therefore, the economic impact of long COVID will likely be greater than other leading causes of global burden of disease,” the researchers found.
The research is based on a mathematical model that calculated the number of people who had endured COVID-19 symptoms for three to 12 months, plus those who had never fully recovered.
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As well as calculating the immediate cost to the economy in 2022, it warned there could be a growing hit to the economy as long COVID became a chronic health problem.
While the hours lost from long COVID sufferers might be made up by fellow workers, the researchers found this could increase “burnout and reduced worker productivity”.
Epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre from the Kirby Institute at UNSW said the widespread nature of COVID-19 meant even a small proportion of people with long COVID translated into a broad economic impact.
She said there had to be a change in attitudes towards long COVID.
“It’s time we considered long COVID in policy decisions, which currently make it difficult for younger, healthy people to access boosters or antivirals. Widening access will have a better impact on long COVID as the greatest burden is on working-age adults,” she said.
Australia’s coronavirus commissioners (from left) Robyn Kruk, Professor Catherine Bennett and Angela Jackson.
A federal inquiry into COVID-19, headed by former senior public servant Robyn Kruk plus economist Angela Jackson and infectious diseases expert Professor Catherine Bennett, is due to report next month.
It has been given a wide remit to look at joint Commonwealth-state actions, although its terms of reference preclude examining unilateral actions taken by states and territories or international programs.
The inquiry has been told that COVID-19 left Australians with poorer physical and mental health, helped fuel inflation because of too many government handouts and encouraged people into the black economy.
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MacIntyre said the research showed there needed to be better support for those dealing with long COVID.
“Financial assistance for long COVID patients, at least for those unable to work because of their symptoms, such as access to a disability pension, would reduce their economic burden,” she said.
“Other strategies to reduce COVID and thereby long COVID should focus on attention to indoor air quality with improved ventilation.”