Summary
What is already identified about this subject?
Long COVID may restrict an individual’s means to hold out day-to-day actions.
What is added by this report?
In 2023, 6.4% (95% CI = 6.3–6.6%) of the noninstitutionalized U.S. adults nationwide had been experiencing Long COVID when surveyed. Among adults with present Long COVID, age- and sex-standardized prevalences of reporting vital Long COVID–related exercise limitation ranged from 12.8% within the District of Columbia to 29.4% in Puerto Rico. Among the seven jurisdictions with present Long COVID prevalence of ≥8.0%, Idaho, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia had been additionally within the highest prevalence quintile for vital Long COVID–related exercise limitation.
What are the implications for public well being apply?
These findings help the continued significance of instruments to scale back threat for Long COVID, together with vaccination. Jurisdiction-specific estimates may information coverage, planning, or programming to help U.S. adults reporting vital Long COVID–related exercise limitation.
Investigation and Outcomes
CDC analyzed information from the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a big, population-based cross-sectional survey of noninstitutionalized U.S. adults aged ≥18 years (3). BRFSS samples members utilizing random-digit–dialing of cellular and landline telephones.† Self-reported age, intercourse, earlier COVID-19 sickness, present Long COVID, and vital exercise limitation as a consequence of Long COVID had been ascertained by way of phone interview. Current Long COVID was outlined as self-report of any signs lasting ≥3 months on the time of interview that weren’t current earlier than having COVID-19. Significant exercise limitation as a consequence of Long COVID was outlined because the presence of signs lowering means to hold out day-to-day actions “so much” in contrast with such means throughout the time earlier than having COVID-19. CDC estimated weighted age- and sex-standardized prevalences with 95% CIs of present Long COVID amongst all adults and vital exercise limitation as a consequence of Long COVID amongst adults experiencing Long COVID nationwide, in 48 states,§ the District of Columbia (DC), Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. CDC standardized all estimates to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau inhabitants of civilian, noninstitutionalized adults utilizing sex-specific weights by age group for individuals aged 18–44, 45–64, and ≥65 years. Analyses had been performed utilizing SAS-callable SUDAAN (model 9.4; RTI International) to account for complicated survey design. Prevalence estimates had been divided into quintiles to create prevalence maps. This exercise was reviewed by CDC, deemed not analysis, and was performed per relevant federal legislation and CDC coverage.¶
Preliminary Conclusions and Actions
During 2023, 6.4% (95% CI = 6.3%–6.6%) of noninstitutionalized U.S. adults nationwide had been experiencing Long COVID when surveyed. The weighted age- and sex-standardized prevalence of present Long COVID ranged from 2.9% (95% CI = 1.7%–5.1%) within the U.S. Virgin Islands to 9.7% (95% CI = 8.7%–10.9%) in West Virginia (Supplementary Table, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/174567). Among adults with present Long COVID, 19.8% (95% CI = 18.9%–20.8%) reported vital exercise limitations as a consequence of their signs. The weighted age- and sex-standardized prevalence of great exercise limitation due to Long COVID amongst U.S. jurisdictions ranged from 12.8% (95% CI = 7.8%–20.3%) in DC to 29.4% (95% CI = 23.6%–36.0%) in Puerto Rico (Figure). Among the seven jurisdictions with present Long COVID prevalence of ≥8.0%, Idaho, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia had been additionally within the highest prevalence quintile for vital Long COVID–related exercise limitation.
These findings help the continued significance of instruments to scale back the danger for Long COVID, together with vaccination. Adults with Long COVID, notably these with vital Long COVID–related exercise limitation, may require further helps to help restoration, akin to well being care assets and office lodging (4,5). These estimates may assist information jurisdiction-specific coverage, planning, or programming to help U.S. adults reporting Long COVID–related limitations.
1Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC; 2General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church, Virginia.
References
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. An extended COVID definition: a continual systemic illness state with profound penalties. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2024. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/27768 https://doi.org/10.17226/27768
- Ford ND, Slaughter D, Edwards D, et al. Long COVID and vital exercise limitation amongst adults, by age—United States, June 1–13, 2022, to June 7–19, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:866–70. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7232a3 PMID:37561665
- CDC. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2024. Accessed September 27, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/index.html
- Pike J, Kompaniyets L, Lindley MC, Saydah S, Miller G. Direct medical prices related to submit–COVID-19 situations amongst privately insured kids and adults. Prev Chronic Dis 2023;20:220292. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.220292 PMID:36757854
- US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy. Coronavirus assets: COVID-19 and lengthy COVID. Washington, DC: US Department of Labor. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/topics/coronavirus-covid-19-long-covid
FIGURE. Prevalences of present Long COVID (A) and vital Long COVID–related exercise limitation (B) amongst adults, by jurisdiction — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2023*,†
Abbreviations: DC = District of Columbia; GU = Guam; PR = Puerto Rico; USVI = U.S. Virgin Islands.
* Prevalence estimates are weighted to account for complicated sampling and standardized to the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized inhabitants primarily based on 2020 U.S. Census Bureau inhabitants. Sex-specific weights by age group had been utilized for ages 18–44, 45–64, and ≥65 years.
† Denominators for prevalence estimates of present Long COVID are the overall grownup inhabitants. Denominators for prevalence estimates for vital exercise limitation are the variety of adults with present Long COVID.
Suggested quotation for this text: Ford ND, Agedew A, Dalton AF, Pratt C, Gregory CO, Saydah S. Notes from the Field: Long COVID and Significant Long COVID–Associated Activity Limitation Among Adults, by Jurisdiction — United States, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:1142–1143. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7350a2.
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