Healthcare Resources Utilization and Costs of Adult Patients with Long-COVID managed in the community in France

<bold>OBJECTIVES</bold>: The economic&societal burden of long COVID (LC) is unclear. We aimed to assess the healthcare resources utilization (HCRU) & costs associated with community-managed LC in adults in France. <bold>Methods:</bold> A retrospective cohort analysis of the electronic records of confirmed and/or probable COVID-19 patients from The Health Improvement Network (THIN) data between 03/2020 and 08/2023 in the primary care setting was conducted. LC was defined per World Health Organization (WHO) with suggestive symptoms given ≥12 weeks following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients’ characteristics, HCRU & costs were summarized. <bold>Results:</bold> A total of 259,184 adults were included and 11.6% have LC. The mean (SD) age was 50(±17) years old, with 22% being aged > 65 years, 64% were female, 27% were obese and 27.5% had a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) >2. The average follow-up was 13 months. Most of the patients (97%) had general practitioners (GP) consultations, followed by nursing care (64%), physiotherapist (32%), and Anaesthesia Resuscitation (16%). HCRU & costs were the highest in the first year after LC diagnosis with per patient per year cost at €2,443 (total at €67 millions), including consultations by GP at €208 and specialists at €170, outpatient procedures at €413, treatments at €595, laboratory tests at €147, sick leave at €705 and medical devices at €172 (respiratory & otorhinolaryngological disease are the most expensed in retail). The mean duration of work absenteeism per patient per year was 17 days. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> LC poses substential burden to French health system, reinforcing the importance of optimizing long-term resource allocation for previously SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.