Economic Disadvantage Linked to Higher Risk of Long COVID: New Study Findings
A new study reveals that social and economic disadvantages significantly increase the risk of developing long COVID, highlighting the importance of addressing health disparities.
A recent observational cohort study has shed light on the significant impact of social determinants of health (SDoH) on the risk of developing long COVID, especially among economically disadvantaged individuals. The research analyzed data from 3,787 adults enrolled in the RECOVER-Adult study, conducted between October 2021 and November 2023, focusing on those infected with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.
Participants completed surveys assessing their comorbidities and social risk factors at the start of the study, with follow-up surveys at six months to evaluate long COVID symptoms. The study employed the Healthy People 2030 framework to categorize social risks into four domains: economic instability, education and language barriers, healthcare access challenges, and lack of community support. Additionally, two area-level factors—neighborhood poverty and household crowding—were analyzed based on ZIP code data.
Findings revealed that individuals experiencing financial hardship, food insecurity, lower educational attainment, and healthcare access difficulties were more likely to develop long COVID. Living in areas with higher household crowding was also associated with an increased risk. The study demonstrated that the accumulation of social risk factors contributed to higher susceptibility to long COVID, highlighting persistent disparities exacerbated by the pandemic.
These results underscore the importance of policy interventions aimed at addressing systemic social inequalities that influence health outcomes. The research emphasizes the need for targeted efforts to dismantle systemic barriers and promote health equity, especially in the context of ongoing COVID-19 impacts.
The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and suggests that addressing social vulnerabilities is crucial in mitigating long COVID risks and reducing health disparities in affected populations.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-economically-disadvantaged-patients-greater-covid.html
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