Overview

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Overview

Last updated: April 2024

This section provides links to resources that have been externally developed. Long COVID is an evolving field of research and not all resources have been peer reviewed. Members are encouraged to critically review all external sources.

The Working Group notes that some information appearing in the literature is inconsistent and, at times, conflicting. For instance, there is a substantial degree of variation in the estimates of the scale of long COVID. This is, in part, a result of differing definitions, dominant strains, degree of vaccination, sample size, study population, and study methodology/quality (e.g., self-reporting, testing methodology for underlying COVID-19 infections, use of a control group). Actuaries are encouraged to think critically about the assumptions underlying the material they are reading and producing.

Public Health Bodies

Long COVID is a medical condition recognised by major health bodies globally. Resources prepared by various reputable health bodies are linked below.

Australian-based Overviews/Literature Reviews

Two separate reports have been prepared that provide an overview of the research at the time of their publication with an emphasis on the Australian experience.

Members may find these to be a helpful first resource before doing subsequent research. Additional studies and papers can be found via the sidebar on this page. 

2

Sick and Tired: Casting a Long Shadow. Inquiry into Long COVID and Repeated COVID Infections (April 2023)

This Report from the Australian Government's inquiry into long COVID provides a broad overview at the time of the inquiry; covering the definition, prevalence, prognosis and lived experience, with an emphasis on the Australian healthcare setting.

1

Long COVID in Australia – a Review of the Literature (December 2022)

Broad overview and literature review by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, covering background, prevalence, determinants, co-morbidities and impact of long COVID, with a focus on Australian experience.




Disclaimer

 Information from the Long COVID Working Group is intended for discussion purposes only and does not constitute consulting advice on which to base decisions. The members of the Working Group are not medical professionals, public health specialists or epidemiologists.

External resources have been provided for informational purposes only and have not been independently reviewed by the Working Group for their accuracy. The Working Group does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the above information.

Information provided reflects the views of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Working Group or the Actuaries Institute.

Long COVID is an evolving field of research, and new research is being produced that may not yet be reflected on this page.