Effect of Long COVID on Work Performance and Annual Monetary Loss Among Infected Health Care Workers at a Tertiary Hospital in Malaysia

Objective
The aim of the study is to assess and compare the work performance loss (absenteeism and presenteeism) and the estimated annual monetary loss among health care workers with and without long COVID.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study was conducted between October 2022 and April 2024 using an online questionnaire. The shortened version of the Health and Work Performance Questionnaire was used to estimate the work performance effect among health care workers with a history of COVID-19 infection.
Results
Health care workers with long COVID have a significantly lower absolute presenteeism and higher annual monetary loss of presenteeism. The mean annual monetary loss of presenteeism was higher in those with long COVID (MYR 10,866.61) compared to those without (MYR 9243.85).
Conclusions
Implementing supportive work strategies in hospital settings is recommended to reduce absolute presenteeism and the annual monetary loss of presenteeism.