Long COVID and Significant Activity Limitation Among Adults, by Age - United States, June 1-13, 2022, to June 7-19, 2023.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Repeated cross-sectional survey data (Household Pulse Survey)
PubMed 37561665 · doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7232a3
What was done
The CDC analyzed repeat cross-sectional data from the national Household Pulse Survey collected between June 1–13, 2022, and June 7–19, 2023. The study estimated the prevalence of long COVID and associated significant activity limitations across age groups among U.S. adults aged 18 years and older.
What was found
Long COVID prevalence in the overall U.S. adult population decreased from 7.5% (95% CI = 7.1–7.9) to 6.0% (95% CI = 5.7–6.3). Among adults reporting prior COVID-19, prevalence decreased from 18.9% (95% CI = 17.9–19.8) to 11.0% (95% CI = 10.4–11.6). In both groups, prevalence declined through January 4–16, 2023, before stabilizing. Stratified by age, significant declines occurred only in adults aged <60 years (p < 0.01). Among adults with previous COVID-19, prevalence decreased among those aged 30–79 years through fall or winter before stabilizing. During June 7–19, 2023, 26.4% (95% CI = 24.0–28.9) of adults with long COVID reported significant activity limitation, which remained unchanged over time.
Why it matters
Although the overall proportion of U.S. adults experiencing long COVID declined and stabilized in early 2023, approximately one in four individuals with the condition still faced substantial functional limitations, indicating a persistent need for targeted healthcare management.
Limits
The abstract does not report the total sample size. The findings rely on self-reported survey data without clinical diagnosis or objective functional assessments, and the repeated cross-sectional design prevents tracking individual recovery or disease duration over time.
Cited by
- supports Long COVID affects tens of millions of people in America.