– It was not surprising that we found a connection, but it was stronger than expected, says senior adviser Lene Lehmann Moberg at Nav’s knowledge department. Sickness absence with the diagnosis of fatigue and weakness is four times as likely if you have had corona, the figures from Nav show. Nav has investigated which diagnoses are most common after sick leave with covid-19 and compared them with other sick leave. – We see that there is a connection regardless of gender, age and job, says Lehmann Moberg. Lene Lehmann Moberg senior adviser knowledge department, Nav Photo: Jan Eirik Gjerdevik Fatigue and laxity increased by 60 per cent After a long period of decline in sickness absence in this country, it increased markedly during the corona pandemic. Figures from Nav show that nearly 30,000 people were on sick leave with fatigue and weakness in 2018, compared to nearly 49,000 in 2022. – Some of the sickness absences after corona lasted longer than is usual, says Moberg. On average, the continuous sickness absences that changed the diagnosis from corona to fatigue and weakness lasted 145 days. About a third of these had been on sick leave for more than half a year. The cars were lined up with people who wanted to be tested for covid-19 during the pandemic. Photo: Mathias Oppedal / news – This may indicate that it is the late effects of the virus that manifest themselves in sick leave, so-called long covid, says Moberg. According to the Institute of Public Health, long covid are symptoms that go beyond functions in daily life and that have lasted for at least two months. Waiting list for treatment The results from the Nav analysis agree well with the experiences of professionals. The coastal hospital in Vestfold has a large influx of patients who want treatment for late effects after covid-19. They currently have a waiting list of four months for those who want help. – We have had an increase in patients who are referred to us with symptoms after covid-19. They can have many different symptoms, but we perhaps see the most fatigue, body aches, headaches, brain fog, shortness of breath, palpitations and dizziness. That’s according to head of department Andreas Horsdal at the physical medicine department at Kysthospitalet. Andreas Horsdal, head of physical medicine department, Kysthospitalet Photo: Malin Nygaard / news Kysthospitalet in Stavern is together with Akershus hospital in the final phase of a study that can provide answers to what is good treatment against chronic covid. – The job can make you healthy Many people want to get back to the level they were at before. – As of today, we do not know what effective treatment is. There is currently a lack of good studies. This applies both nationally and internationally, says Horsdal. But Kysthospitalet has long experience with patients with similar symptoms that affect patients with late effects after covid-19. The coastal hospital in Stavern accepts patients with fatigue syndrome. There has been an increase in the number of referrals, and now there is a four-month waiting list to get help. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news – We see that the patients benefit from measures we already have with us. It is also important that the patients are taken seriously, that a good examination is carried out, good information is given and an explanation of symptoms is given. – What do they need to get back to work? – We strongly believe in using work as an arena for recovery. This can be done with individual arrangements in collaboration with the employer. There have also been some studies, including from Helse Hardanger, which show that it is entirely possible. State Secretary Tomas Norvoll in the Ministry of Labor and Inclusion says that there is a comprehensive system for follow-up of those on sick leave through the IA agreement. Tomas Norvoll State Secretary in the Ministry of Employment and Inclusion. Photo: Kåre Riibe Ramskjell / news According to the agreement, the employer has a duty to make arrangements for employees with reduced working capacity. – The duty applies regardless of diagnosis. For people who are on sick leave due to tiredness and lethargy, it is appropriate to consider arranging working hours or tasks, says Norvoll. Long covid What are the late effects of covid-19? For most people, covid-19 is a mild and transitory illness, but some suffer persistent problems beyond the acute phase. Such long-lasting symptoms have previously been reported after a number of other infections, and it is therefore not surprising that some people experience late effects after covid-19. Common symptoms Among people with covid-19 who were not admitted to hospital, the most commonly reported symptoms 6-12 months after the illness are: Impaired memory Altered sense of taste and/or smell Fatigue/tiredness Impaired ability to think and concentrate (so-called ” brain fog”) Heavy breathing Source: FHI Teachers and health workers most at risk Health workers stand out among other workers. These occupational groups account for a third of sickness absence with the diagnosis of fatigue and lethargy. There were demanding working conditions for the nurses during the pandemic, among other things the procedures with infection control equipment were extensive. During the pandemic, 16,807 were admitted to hospital with Covid, according to FHI. 2357 needed intensive treatment. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news But teachers also stand out. – Employees in these industries often have physically and mentally demanding jobs and have also been exposed to high work pressure during the pandemic. Teachers have alternated between digital and physical teaching. It has been a demanding work situation, according to Lehmann Moberg. The accommodation and catering industry has also been hit hard by the corona pandemic, with great uncertainty and redundancies.
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Strong connection between corona and sickness absence with fatigue and lethargy – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
