by Xuguang Sui
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Approximately 14 percent of the U.S. population suffered from long COVID at some point, according to a research article published in the journal PLOS One, titled "Long COVID in the United States".
Researchers used the data collected from nearly half a million Americans from June 2022 to December 2022 in the U.S. Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey. They found that 14 percent of the respondents reported suffering long COVID at some point, half of whom reported it at the time of the survey.
The study found that the incidence of long COVID varied remarkedly across the United States, from 11 percent in Hawaii to 18 percent in West Virginia.
Meanwhile, consistent with the results of the existing studies, the incident rate in the United States is noticeably higher for women than men, among Whites compared with Blacks and Asians, and declines with rising education and income.
Long COVID is defined as "a multisystemic condition comprising often severe symptoms that follow a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection," the study said. It has severe physical and mental health consequences, as more than 200 symptoms of the disease have been identified.
Long COVID sufferers may experience "dozens of symptoms across multiple organ systems," including physical impairments, cognitive difficulties and psychological changes, ranging from fatigue, limited mobility, impaired concentration, memory problems, anxiety and depression, to name a few.
The disease is strongly associated with physical mobility problems in carrying out daily activities such as dressing and bathing. It is also linked to cognitive difficulties, evidenced by difficulty recalling and decreasing comprehension.
Still, the article noted much remains to be learned about the nature, determinants and consequences of long COVID, which will only be revealed in time with the advent of new data.
In particular, tracking individuals over time might make it possible to understand the potential impact of vaccinations on long COVID. These understandings would help prepare for future pandemics. ■
