A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that long COVID is affecting residents in some states more than others in the United States, indicating that the effects of COVID are lingering longer in certain areas. The study, detailed in the latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), tracked reported cases of long COVID and found that West Virginia had the highest prevalence, with 10.6% of survey respondents reporting long-term effects of the virus in 2022. Alabama and Montana also reported high rates of long COVID, with 9.8% of respondents experiencing lingering symptoms. Other states with long COVID cases exceeding 8% included North Dakota, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Tennessee, Mississippi, Iowa, South Dakota, and Utah.
The prevalence of long COVID was found to be highest in the South, West, and Midwest, with the Pacific and New England reporting the lowest cases. Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, emphasized the role of obesity and vaccines in the prevalence of long COVID. He stated that obesity and underlying diseases significantly increase the risk of severe COVID, which in turn correlates with persistent symptoms and long COVID.
The study, conducted as part of the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), gathered state-specific data through phone surveys to inform policy and support U.S. adults experiencing long COVID. However, the study had limitations, as it did not capture treatment during acute COVID infection, time since COVID-19 illness, or the duration and severity of symptoms, which may have influenced the reported prevalence of long COVID.
Long COVID is a condition where symptoms of the virus persist for an extended period of time, generally three months or more. These symptoms can include fatigue, respiratory issues, and neurologic symptoms, often referred to as “brain fog.” It is still an ill-defined term, but the most prominent features of long COVID include persistent fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, cough, and rapid heart rate or arrhythmias.
The CDC aims to use the data to inform policies, planning, or programming to support those experiencing long COVID, but further studies are needed to fully understand how long COVID is reported and what criteria are used to define the symptoms.
In conclusion, long COVID continues to affect individuals across the United States, with certain states reporting higher prevalence than others. The study emphasizes the need for further research and understanding of long COVID and its long-term effects on individuals.