Kosten von COVID-19 – Auswertungen von Routinedaten einer Unfallversicherung

For health service employees who suffered infections with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 2020, the development of follow-up costs over a period of 3.5 years is described.

On the basis of routine data from the Statutory Accident Insurance of the Health and Welfare Service (BGW), insured persons were identified who had suffered an infection with COVID-19 in 2020. For these cases, services with a booking date up to 30 June 2023 are included. The analysis of the sociodemographic characteristics is based on the date of illness in the first and second waves of the pandemic.

The analysis is based on 47,697 cases. Indicators of severe clinical courses were significantly more frequent in the group from the first wave, including inpatient treatment, payment of injury compensation and the mortality rates. The costs over this period came to 117.2 million €, with a peak annual value in 2022. The most important components were compensation for injuries and inpatient treatment (52.2% and 27.5%, respectively). The most marked increases in both these positions were recorded in 2021 and 2022. The contribution of outpatient treatment to the overall costs continuously increased from 3.1% in 2020 to 14.9% in 2023. This is due to an increase in physiotherapy.

In 2023 costs are still arising for patients who contracted COVID-19 in 2020. Most of these costs are due to compensation for injuries or inpatient treatment. In the years after the insured person developed the disease there has been a clear increase in costs for outpatient rehabilitation.