A new report from the CDC, based on data from the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), shows that 6.4% of noninstitutionalized US adults reported experiencing Long COVID. Of those, 19.8% reported significant limitations in their ability to perform daily activities due to Long COVID symptoms.1
The study found that the prevalence of current Long COVID ranged from 2.9% in the US Virgin Islands to 9.7% in West Virginia. Among adults with Long COVID, the prevalence of significant activity limitation ranged from 12.8% in the District of Columbia to 29.4% in Puerto Rico. Idaho, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia were among the regions with both high Long COVID prevalence and high rates of activity limitation.1
These findings underscore the need for continued public health efforts, including vaccination, to reduce the risk of Long COVID. They also suggest that local health policies and resources may need to be adjusted to meet the specific needs of regions with higher prevalence and activity limitations.1
Adults with Long COVID, particularly those with significant activity limitations, may require additional resources, such as healthcare support and workplace accommodations. These jurisdiction-specific estimates can help guide targeted public health policies and interventions.1
What You Need To Know
According to the CDC's 2023 data, 6.4% of noninstitutionalized U.S. adults report having Long COVID, with nearly 20% facing significant activity limitations.
Long COVID prevalence and associated activity limitations vary across regions, with areas like West Virginia and Puerto Rico seeing some of the highest rates.
The 2024 RECOVER-Adult study refines the Long COVID classification index, adding new symptoms and categories to better identify symptomatic cases and their impact on quality of life.
In addition to this, a 2024 update to the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER-Adult) study’s Long COVID classification index, published in JAMA, incorporates data from 3,900 additional participants and an expanded symptom list. The study included 13,647 adults from 83 sites in the US and Puerto Rico, with 11,743 participants having known SARS-CoV-2 infection and 1,904 without. Data was collected from participants at least 4.5 months after their initial infection.2
The 2024 Long COVID research index builds on the 2023 model, adding symptoms such as post-exertional malaise, fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, and others. A score of 11 or greater on the index identifies symptomatic Long COVID. The updated index classified 20% of participants with known infection as having likely Long COVID, while 39% of those with prior infection were classified as having possible Long COVID, a new category. The index also identified five subtypes of Long COVID that correlate with quality of life measures.2
The CDC’s 2023 data reveals that 6.4% of US adults report experiencing Long COVID, with 19.8% reporting significant limitations in daily activities. The prevalence and impact of Long COVID vary by region, emphasizing the need for targeted public health efforts. The updated RECOVER-Adult Long COVID research index offers an improved tool for identifying symptomatic cases and their subtypes. As research progresses, further refinement of the index and public health policies will be critical to understanding and addressing the ongoing impact of Long COVID.
References
1. 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
2. Geng LN, Erlandson KM, Hornig M, et al. 2024 Update of the RECOVER-Adult Long COVID Research Index. JAMA. Published online December 18, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.24184.
