Over 4 years after SARS-CoV-2’s debut, researchers nonetheless wrestle to grasp lengthy COVID, together with the ostensibly easy query of how many individuals have it. Estimates for its prevalence fluctuate extensively, primarily based on completely different examine strategies and definitions of the situation. Now, for the primary time, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention has tried to estimate its prevalence amongst adults in every US state and territory. The outcomes once more present a variety of prevalence estimates whereas revealing the states that have been hardest hit in addition to people who appear comparatively spared.
General, the CDC discovered that seven states within the South, West, and Midwest had the very best prevalence of lengthy COVID within the nation, between 8.9 p.c and 10.6 p.c: Alabama, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Wyoming, and, the state with the very best prevalence of 10.6 p.c, West Virginia. The outcomes are revealed right this moment within the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, New England states, Washington, and Oregon had decrease prevalence charges, between 3.7 p.c and 5.3 p.c. The bottom fee was seen within the US Virgin Islands with 1.9 p.c. Washington, DC, and Guam had ranges between 1.9 p.c and three.6 p.c.
Prevalence of reported expertise of Lengthy COVID amongst adults aged ≥18 years, by jurisdiction.
For these estimates, CDC researchers outlined lengthy COVID circumstances by having any self-reported signs lasting 3 or extra months that weren’t current earlier than getting COVID-19. These signs can embrace a large spectrum of illnesses, from gastrointestinal issues to coronary heart palpitations, joint ache, respiratory signs, neurological situations, and fatigue.
The estimates are primarily based on survey responses from a nationwide surveillance system in 2022. The survey did not seize some notable information, together with whether or not individuals had therapy through the acute section of their COVID-19 an infection, how lengthy it had been since their an infection, the final word size of their lengthy COVID (if not ongoing), and vaccination standing. Vaccination information was solely out there from a subset of people that took the survey and is not included within the report.
The authors hope that the findings can “assist establish geographic disparities in lengthy COVID throughout the US that might information interventions to advertise well being fairness.”