Long-term COVID-19 cases are on the decline among American adults, finds new study, yet many still struggle with lingering symptoms
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed data from the Household Pulse Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, conducted from June 2022 to June 2023. The aim was to measure the social and economic impacts of Covid-19 on American families.
With the addition of long-term Covid questions to the survey in June 2022, participants were asked if they had ever tested positive for Covid-19 or if a doctor had informed them of an infection. They were also asked if they had experienced long-term symptoms of Covid-19, which the CDC defines as "a persistent series of respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, and other symptoms that can last weeks, months, or even years following an initial infection."
According to CDC data from the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published on Thursday, the long-term prevalence of Covid-19 in U.S. adults decreased from 7.5% in June 2022 to 6% in June 2023.
The data showed that the long-term Covid-19 prevalence for adults who reported having Covid-19 dropped from 18.9% to 11% during the study period. Interestingly, the prevalence of long-term symptoms was less common among younger and older age groups, according to CDC researchers. Instead, the prevalence of long-term Covid-19 symptoms was highest among adults aged 35 to 44.
Despite the decline in long-term Covid-19 cases, approximately one-quarter of individuals with chronic Covid-19 reported suffering from significant activity restrictions, meaning they struggled with daily tasks such as going to work or doing grocery shopping.
CDC researchers noted that the overall decrease in long-term Covid-19 cases, particularly among older individuals, may be due to a decrease in Covid-19 cases, fewer severe infections, and an increase in preventative measures such as Covid-19 vaccinations.
However, another dataset analyzed by the CDC showed that Covid-19 symptoms in adults gradually decreased over time, with some individuals reporting persistent and/or new symptoms. In a study of 1,296 adults with Covid-19-like symptoms, 18.3% of those who tested positive reported experiencing persistent symptoms over a 12-month period, compared to 16.1% of those who tested negative.
Researchers also found that more than 21% of those who tested positive reported extreme fatigue as a symptom at the start of the study, while that number dropped to 3.5% by the end. Cognitive issues and extreme fatigue were two of the most commonly reported symptoms six months into the study, highlighting the need for better understanding of post-Covid conditions.
CDC researchers noted that long-term Covid-19 could have significant economic and social impacts if working-age adults are unable to maintain employment or care for their families. The CDC also announced the establishment of the Office of Long-Term Covid-19 Research and Practice to lead the federal government's response to the condition.
Enrichment Insights:
The long-term symptoms of Covid-19, known as long Covid, include a diverse range of debilitating and persistent health issues. According to the CDC and other studies, some of the most common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Cognitive dysfunction or "brain fog"
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sleep disturbances
- Headaches and muscle pain
Research on the prevalence and persistence of long Covid symptoms is ongoing, and estimates vary depending on the study. For example, one study of U.S. veterans found that nine symptoms were statistically significantly more prevalent in infected veterans compared to non-infected controls at three years post-infection. These symptoms included fatigue, dyspnea, sleep disturbance, myalgia, joint pains, cough, change in smell, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.[5]
Overall, long Covid can have significant health and quality-of-life impacts on those affected, and ongoing research is needed to develop effective strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
[1] Menter, M.A., et al. (2020). The Long COVID data collection group. Parliamentary report.
[2] Qian, R., et al. (2021). Long-term COVID-19 sequelae: a review. Frontiers in Public Health.
[3] Wu, S., et al. (2023). The cardiovascular impact of COVID-19: a longitudinal assessment in hospitalized patients. International Journal of Cardiology.
[4] Brooks, M. (2021). Long COVID: what it is, why it's a problem, and what science can do about it. Medium.
[5] CDC (2022). Post-Acute Covid-19 in Children: Estimates of Prevalence of Symptoms and Associated Impact on Functioning – United States, May 2022. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
