The prevalence and impact of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), commonly referred to as long COVID, has significantly decreased among health care workers over time, according to research published online on Nov. 12 in Infection.

The study, led by Tamara Dörr, M.D., from the Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen in Switzerland, analyzed the experiences of 1,704 health care workers over a 30-month period to assess the burden and progression of PASC symptoms.

By October 2023, 30.7% of participants reported experiencing one or more PASC symptoms, while 6.7% had either ongoing or past PASC. Symptoms were most commonly associated with infections caused by the Wild-type strain of SARS-CoV-2 compared to later variants.

The study also revealed that 15% of participants reported severe restrictions in daily activities due to PASC symptoms. Among those seeking relief, nearly three-quarters (74%) attempted at least one therapeutic measure, and 81% reported benefiting from these interventions.

“Our data show a steady and continuing decrease of PASC prevalence and burden in a health care worker population of predominantly female and previously healthy individuals over the course of 30 months,” the authors noted. They highlighted that the recovery rate appears to be high and time-dependent, though the effectiveness of therapeutic measures varies.

These findings provide critical insights into the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and underscore the importance of ongoing monitoring and tailored interventions for health care workers, a group particularly vulnerable during the pandemic. The steady decline in PASC prevalence offers hope for recovery, especially as therapeutic options and understanding of the condition continue to improve.