Abstract
Background
Although most adults infected with SARS-CoV-2 fully recover, a proportion have ongoing symptoms, or post-COVID conditions (PCC), after infection. The objective of this analysis was to estimate the number of US adults with activity-limiting PCC on November 1, 2021.
Methods
We modeled the prevalence of PCC using reported infections occurring from February 1, 2020 – September 30, 2021, and population-based, household survey data on new activity-limiting symptoms ≥1 month following SARS-CoV-2 infection. From these data sources, we estimated the number and proportion of US adults with activity-limiting PCC on November 1, 2021, as 95% uncertainty intervals, stratified by sex and age. Sensitivity analyses adjusted for under-ascertainment of infections and uncertainty about symptom duration.
Results
On November 1, 2021, at least 3.0–5.0 million US adults were estimated to have activity-limiting PCC of ≥1 month duration, or 1.2%–1.9% of US adults. Population prevalence was higher in females (1.4%–2.2%) than males. The estimated prevalence after adjusting for under-ascertainment of infections was 1.7%–3.8%.
Conclusion
Millions of US adults were estimated to have activity-limiting PCC. These estimates can support future efforts to address the impact of PCC on the U.S. population.
Keywords: Post-COVID conditions, long COVID, disability, COVID-19, modeling, prevalence
Contributor Information
Mark W Tenforde, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Owen J Devine, Eagle Global Scientific, LLC, Alpharetta, GA, USA.
Heather E Reese, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Benjamin J Silk, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA.
A Danielle Iuliano, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Ryan Threlkel, General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA.
Quan M Vu, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Ian D Plumb, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Betsy L Cadwell, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Charles Rose, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Molly K Steele, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Melissa Briggs-Hagen, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Daniel Ayoubkhani, Office for National Statistics, Newport, UK.
Piotr Pawelek, Office for National Statistics, Newport, UK.
Vahé Nafilyan, Office for National Statistics, Newport, UK.
Sharon H Saydah, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Jeanne Bertolli, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Supplementary Material
Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.