Factors Associated with Long COVID Recovery among US Adults.

BACKGROUND: While factors associated with long COVID (LC) continue to be illuminated, little is known about recovery. This study used national survey data to assess differences between adults in the United States with LC and those who recovered.

METHODS: We used COVID-19 and LC data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, a cross-sectional sample of non-institutionalized US adults. Survey analysis was used to account for oversampling and nonresponse bias and to obtain nationally representative estimates. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify potential predictors of LC recovery.

RESULTS: Among the study sample, 17.7% or an estimated 17.5 American adults reported ever having LC, and among those with LC, 48.5% or an estimated 8.5 million reported having recovered. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that Hispanic adults were significantly more likely than White adults to report recovery from LC. At the same time, those with severe COVID-19 symptoms and those who had more than a high school degree, were aged 40 years or older, or were female were less likely to report recovery.

CONCLUSION: Significant variations in LC recovery were noted across age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education independent of the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Further work is needed to elucidate the causes of these differences and identify strategies to increase recovery rates.