Work Productivity Loss Among Caregivers of Pediatric Patients With COVID-19 OR Influenza/Influenza-Like Illness: A Systematic Literature Review
Author(s)
Manuela Di Fusco, MS1, Verna L. Welch, PhD1, Alon Yehoshua, MS1, Jingyan Yang, DrPH1, Santiago M.C. Lopez, MD1, Anup Sinh, MA2, Shailja Vaghela, MPH2.
1Pfizer, Inc., New York, NY, USA, 2HealthEcon Consulting, Inc., Ancaster, ON, Canada.
1Pfizer, Inc., New York, NY, USA, 2HealthEcon Consulting, Inc., Ancaster, ON, Canada.
OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 and influenza/influenza-like illness (ILI) pose significant burden for children and their caregivers. Data on the impact of a pediatric patient’s illness on the work productivity of caregivers are limited. This systematic literature review (SLR) assessed real-world evidence (RWE) studies that characterized work productivity-related impacts on caregivers of pediatric (<18 years old) patients with COVID-19 or influenza/ILI.
METHODS: Searches were conducted using four databases (Embase, Medline, PsycNet, and Web of Science) to identify articles in any language for COVID-19 (1/1/2020-1/12/2024) and influenza/ILI (1/1/2007-1/12/2024). Study details, methods, population characteristics and work productivity outcomes (expressed as work time loss) were extracted, and findings were narratively synthesized.
RESULTS: 14,200 titles/abstracts were screened, and 630 full-text articles were reviewed. No COVID-19 specific study was identified. Twenty-seven studies for influenza/ILI, representing caregivers of 31,528 pediatric patients from 19 countries, were included in the SLR. The studies predominantly reported caregiver burden associated with acute infection in children, while none examined effects of sequelae and long-term complications of children’s influenza/ILI on the work productivity outcomes of caregivers. Caregivers of children with influenza/ILI lost a mean of 1.2 to 10.2 workdays per episode (18 studies), while the median workday loss ranged from 0 to 7.0 days (9 studies). Work productivity loss among caregivers varied by patient’s influenza status, disease severity, viral strain, vaccination status, and antiviral treatment. Specifically, caregivers of children with moderate-to-severe illness or requiring hospitalization experienced the highest burden, with a mean workday loss of 3.2 to 10.2 days.
CONCLUSIONS: Influenza/ILI among children significantly affects their caregivers’ productivity. Gaps exist in assessing the work productivity-related impact on caregivers of pediatric patients with COVID-19, and in assessing long-term impacts on caregivers due to their children’s influenza/ILI. These findings emphasize the societal impact of influenza/ILI and the need for continuous research into indirect impacts of infectious diseases.
METHODS: Searches were conducted using four databases (Embase, Medline, PsycNet, and Web of Science) to identify articles in any language for COVID-19 (1/1/2020-1/12/2024) and influenza/ILI (1/1/2007-1/12/2024). Study details, methods, population characteristics and work productivity outcomes (expressed as work time loss) were extracted, and findings were narratively synthesized.
RESULTS: 14,200 titles/abstracts were screened, and 630 full-text articles were reviewed. No COVID-19 specific study was identified. Twenty-seven studies for influenza/ILI, representing caregivers of 31,528 pediatric patients from 19 countries, were included in the SLR. The studies predominantly reported caregiver burden associated with acute infection in children, while none examined effects of sequelae and long-term complications of children’s influenza/ILI on the work productivity outcomes of caregivers. Caregivers of children with influenza/ILI lost a mean of 1.2 to 10.2 workdays per episode (18 studies), while the median workday loss ranged from 0 to 7.0 days (9 studies). Work productivity loss among caregivers varied by patient’s influenza status, disease severity, viral strain, vaccination status, and antiviral treatment. Specifically, caregivers of children with moderate-to-severe illness or requiring hospitalization experienced the highest burden, with a mean workday loss of 3.2 to 10.2 days.
CONCLUSIONS: Influenza/ILI among children significantly affects their caregivers’ productivity. Gaps exist in assessing the work productivity-related impact on caregivers of pediatric patients with COVID-19, and in assessing long-term impacts on caregivers due to their children’s influenza/ILI. These findings emphasize the societal impact of influenza/ILI and the need for continuous research into indirect impacts of infectious diseases.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
SA106
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health, Study Approaches
Topic Subcategory
Literature Review & Synthesis
Disease
Infectious Disease (non-vaccine), Vaccines