August 11, 2023 – The rate of individuals getting Long COVID appears to be stabilizing at about 1 in 10 adults who’ve ever been infected with the virus, latest government tracking data shows.
Taking into consideration individuals who have never had COVID-19, an estimated 6% of the U.S. adult population had Long COVID in June 2023, in comparison with 7.5% in June 2022. This is based on a new CDC report Analysis of information from the monthly online Household Pulse SurveyThe survey collects pandemic-related health data, including mental health indicators and insurance coverage.
Among individuals who have had COVID before, the proportion of individuals reporting having long COVID has fallen from 19% last summer to around 11% in January, and that percentage has remained stable in 2023. The report's authors said the rationale for the stabilization could possibly be a mix of things, including fewer people infected, less severe infections, higher treatments reminiscent of antivirals, and protection from vaccines.
The survey asks people in the event that they have had symptoms for a minimum of 3 months that they didn’t have before COVID-19 infection. Symptoms may include tiredness or fatigue, difficulty pondering or concentrating, memory problems, difficulty respiration, joint or muscle pain, fast heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness when standing up, changes in menstruation, changes in taste or smell, or inability to exercise.
More than one in 4 people affected by Long COVID reported within the survey that the disease significantly limits their ability to perform on a regular basis activities in comparison with before they’d COVID-19. The proportion of individuals reporting significant limitations has remained constant over time, the authors wrote.
Last month, the federal government announced the establishment of the Office for Long COVID Research and Practice to guide the federal government's response to support the estimated 7.7 to 23 million people within the United States who’ve long Covid. The cornerstone of the office's work is coordinating a $1.15 billion research program that features clinical trials called the RECOVER Initiative.