Studies show high rates of Long Covid among healthcare and dental workers

Soucheray, S. (2025) summarised by Yesenia Mendoza Camacho

Introduction

Researchers estimate that about 8% of Americans have had Long Covid following a COVID-19 infection, although two new studies show that healthcare and dental workers might be affected much more often than others.

Summary

The first study, published in BMJ Public Health, looked at information from 28 different studies involving over 6,000 healthcare workers from around the world. They found that about 40% of healthcare workers who had COVID-19 went on to have Long Covid symptoms such as: fatigue; loss/decrease of smell or taste; muscle aches; shortness of breath; neurologic symptoms. Even after a year, about 26% were still experiencing these symptoms. This is likely due to healthcare workers being exposed to the virus and working in a high-stress environment that can exacerbate the risk of long-term post-viral symptoms.

The second study, published in Scientific Reports, focused on dental professionals in Germany. It found that about 23% of dental workers who caught COVID-19 developed Long Covid. Dental assistants and hygienists were more affected than dentists, and lower vaccination rates among assistants may have played a role. People who were vaccinated seemed less likely to suffer from Long Covid, but this could not be evidenced due to the low number of people studied, authors noted that there was a 10% difference in the incidence of Long Covid between vaccinated and non-vaccinated dental team members. It was more likely for dentists to be vaccinated than dental assistants and hygienists.

In both studies, the most common Long Covid symptoms were exhaustion, fatigue and lack of concentration.

Conclusion

These studies of healthcare and dental workers show that they are at higher risk of getting Long Covid than the general population. Healthcare and dental workers are often physically nearer to people than in many other professions, without effective protection they are more likely to catch airborne illnesses. Overall, vaccination seemed to be protective against Long Covid according to the dental study. Long Covid can cause serious problems like exhaustion, memory issues and breathing difficulties which can last for months or longer. It is important that governments and health organisations prioritise the welfare of healthcare and dental workers, assist them in managing their workload and ensure they get the necessary medical care required. More research is needed to fully understand how best to prevent and treat Long Covid.

Read the research here