The Socio-economic Impact of the Post-COVID-19 Condition in the Canadian Context

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many people are experiencing long-term symptoms and health problems following SARS-CoV-2 infection, a condition known as Post-COVID-19 Condition (PCC) or Long COVID. According to a 2022 national survey, approximately 14.8% of adult Canadians with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections report experiencing longer-term symptoms. Moreover, nearly half (47.3%) of those individuals with PCC report that their symptoms persist for a duration of one year or more. Recent studies show that the likelihood of being diagnosed with PCC varies among populations. For instance, people from certain racial and ethnic groups are more likely than other groups to experience certain symptoms linked to PCC. Simply observing health disparities between groups does not necessarily explain the variations in PCC or how to reduce them. However, investigating the root causes behind why socially and economically disadvantaged groups face higher PCC risks can help inform policy interventions that reduce health disparities. Our five-year project aims to create new knowledge about inequitable health disparities caused by PCC. We expect to answer questions such as: to what extent does access to healthcare, housing quality, or gender account for disparities in the prevalence of PCC in Canada? This project seeks to improve our understanding of PCC by investigating and measuring the impact of social determinants of health on PCC variation among socially and economically disadvantaged subgroups of the population and identifying patterns and variations in disparity measures related to PCC, specifically within marginalized communities. This research project will generate knowledge and evidence that help with the development of effective interventions by policymakers that can reduce health inequities due to PCC.