– Covid-19 is an important reason for the increase in sickness absence. Those who discuss increased sickness absence without mentioning covid-19 and its late effects are not having a serious discussion, says FHI researcher Richard Aubrey White. Together with researchers from Nav, the University of Oslo and NTNU, he has investigated how the coronavirus affects sickness absence in Norway. The conclusion of the study is startling. Richard Aubrey White is a researcher and statistician at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Photo: Jan-Erik Wilthil / news – Can affect the brain The researchers point out that sickness absence as a result of exhaustion has exploded during the pandemic years. The same applies to psychological problems and ADHD-like symptoms such as memory and concentration difficulties. According to the study, exhaustion alone accounts for 11 per cent of the increase in sickness absence in 2023, which corresponds to an economic loss of NOK 1.8 billion. All this can be linked to late effects of covid-19, believes White, who has led the study. He points out that covid-19 can also affect the brain, causing a wide range of symptoms. – There is strong evidence of neurological and psychological late effects after undergoing covid-19. These late effects, such as persistent memory problems and cognitive difficulties, can lead to a patient seeing their GP for suspected ADHD, says White. In 2023, sickness absence with ADHD as a diagnosis is 91 per cent higher than expected, according to the study. Researchers from Nav have previously found a connection between covid-19 and the risk of being affected by both exhaustion and psychological problems. The Norwegian corona study has also made similar findings. Many are on sick leave for a long time. The table below shows how sickness absence due to exhaustion suddenly accelerated when the pandemic hit Norway. (Each column in the table corresponds to one year, and the number of days’ work lost that year) Source: FHI/Nav Waves of infection lead to increased sickness absence The researchers used information from an FHI’s own system for monitoring the disease picture in Norway. This system collects data on diagnoses from almost all GPs and emergency rooms in Norway. In addition, they have collected information on sickness absence from Nav. They then compared the trends in the period before and after the pandemic. They have also found a temporal connection with waves of infection. The study shows that in periods with a lot of corona infection, far more people are called in sick with symptoms of exhaustion. White believes that developments in recent years paint a clear picture. He asks the authorities to inform the population about the risk of late effects, and what it actually entails. The researcher emphasizes that he is not speaking on behalf of FHI The figure shows that more people are called in sick with symptoms of exhaustion during waves of infection. Graphics: Screenshot from the study. – Corona is an airborne virus. Norway should prevent sickness absence by implementing measures to reduce corona infection. This involves improved ventilation and increased use of air purifiers. White also advocates testing, voluntary isolation and the use of respiratory protection when you are contagious yourself, and in periods of high levels of infection in society. White has also previously been critical of how the health authorities handle the late effects of covid-19. He recently wrote an article on news.no together with other researchers, in which he warns of the dangers. – The elephant in the room Sickness absence in Norway is now at its highest in 15 years, and the increase is greatest among young people and women. From April to June this year, sickness absence was 7.1 per cent. This corresponds to 10.6 million lost working days. Other countries such as Great Britain, Germany and Spain are also experiencing a sharp increase in sickness absence after the coronavirus made its entrance. Until now, the debate about the causes here at home has largely been about people’s attitudes towards their own illness and absence. The employers in NHO and several political parties are considering cutting sick pay to reduce sickness absence. – It is easy to blame the individual. Recognizing that covid-19 plays an important role with regard to increased sickness absence will require the authorities to take action, believes White. – The reasons for sickness absence are complex. Is it not just as likely that the increase is due to other factors, such as the pandemic measures and economic downturns? – It is likely that many factors play a role in the increase in sickness absence, but still, covid-19 is the elephant in the room. It is taboo to claim that covid-19 and its sequelae are still affecting society in 2024. This will continue as long as we just ignore it, says White. Preben Aavitsland is acting area director at the Institute of Public Health. Photo: Tor Erik Schrøder FHI: Late sequelae do not affect many Acting area director Preben Aavitsland at FHI believes, however, that “long covid” is not a widespread health problem in Norway. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has itself investigated the occurrence of late sequelae, and found that only a small proportion of those who have had covid-19 develop health problems afterwards. – We have found that less than 1 per cent of those infected had long-term symptoms. The proportion is probably even lower now that there is such widespread immunity in the population, says Aavitsland. Aavitsland has previously claimed that late-onset injuries from corona are rare and often go away over time. He believes there may be several reasons why sickness absence has increased. – It is not so strange if sickness absence has increased after everything that has happened after 2019. Animal times with high prices and interest rates, increased unrest in the world and the new disease covid-19 which probably everyone has now had at least once. Nor does the probable connection between waves of infection and sickness absence due to exhaustion surprise the area director. – It is as expected, as exhaustion is a common symptom of acute covid-19, says Aavitsland. Nav researcher Ivar Lima believes late effects of covid-19 may be the cause of a significant proportion of sickness absence. Photo: NAV Nav points to covid-19 Researchers from Nav, on the other hand, paint a completely different picture. A recent analysis reveals that a large part of sick leave may be due to covid-related illnesses. Respiratory infections and what are probably late-onset injuries after covid-19 account for half of the increase in sickness absence, according to Nav’s research department. – The diagnosis of exhaustion alone is linked to 16 per cent of the increase in sickness absence from 2019 to 2023, and the sickness absences with this diagnosis are often long-term, says researcher Ivar Lima in Nav. It was FriFagbevegelse that mentioned this analysis first. Lima believes international studies support the findings they have made. – It is obvious that covid-19 has led to increased sickness absence, because there are many people who have been and are still being infected. Many get quite strong symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue and headaches, says Lima. The researcher calls for greater focus on the coronavirus as a cause of sick leave in Norway. – There are many indications that a smaller group will suffer long-term and inhibiting late effects from covid-19. Some of these have probably switched to employment verification money, with the risk of falling out of working life. This should have been given greater attention, both from the health authorities, the research community and the public in general, says Lima. Published 25.11.2024, at 07.49
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Disturbing findings about covid-19 and “Long covid” – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
