By Healthesystems
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world in such an unprecedented manner that the ripple effects continue to be felt – including the prevalence of long COVID, the chronic condition that can linger for weeks, months, or even years after the initial infection.
In workers’ comp, data has shown that while long COVID appears in few claims, it significantly impacts medical care and drives up costs. As we enter peak COVID season, here are three ways long COVID impacts workers’ comp claims:
#1. Slower Wound Healing Can Extend Recovery
Scientific studies show that COVID‐19 can prolong primary wound healing by inducing excessive inflammation and oxidative stress, disturbing the immune and hematologic systems, as well as influencing the functions and viability of epidermal stem cells. And when an injured worker’s wounds take longer to heal, that can extend recovery and in turn, the life of a claim and the need for additional treatment.
#2. Organ Damage Can Lead to Pharmacy Management Concerns
Multi-organ injuries are observed in more severe cases of COVID-19. For these patients who then go on to develop long COVID, any lasting damage caused during the initial COVID-19 infection can go on to be a complicating factor. Considering that long COVID is more likely to develop after more extreme cases of COVID-19, these symptoms are incredibly relevant when navigating pharmacy management across patients with long COVID.
If an injured worker sustained organ damage from initial COVID-19 infection, medications commonly utilized in workers’ comp may not be compatible due to potential drug-drug and drug-disease interactions. Possible drug-disease concerns between workers’ comp medications and long COVID include:
- Lung damage – Opioids and benzodiazepines
- Liver damage – Benzodiazepines, acetaminophen, and muscle relaxants
- Heart damage – Muscle relaxants and NSAIDs
- Kidney damage – Muscle relaxants and NSAIDs
#3. Muscle Weakness and Fatigue Can Impact Return to Work
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), long COVID symptoms can include post-exertional malaise, a condition that causes high fatigue after light physical activity, social activity, and emotional stress.Additionally, in a study by Nature that compared pre-and-post-exercise biopsies between long COVID patients and healthy controls, long COVID patients displayed significant muscle damage, a disturbed immune response, and a buildup of micro clots.
In fact, a report from the CDC found that for workers with long COVID, returning to work too early can result in health deterioration, noting the importance of prolonged reconditioning and gradually reintroducing patients back into the workplace. This can impact return-to-work strategies for various occupations, particularly those with high physical demands.
Want to Learn More?
For more information, including more detail on drug-disease interactions due to long COVID, read our RxInformer article, In the Long Run: How Long COVID Impacts Workers’ Comp.
