Long COVID according to CDC is the occurrence of new, returning, or ongoing health problems four or more weeks after the initial infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
A study used EHRs of more than 200,000 COVID-19 survivors and found that within six months following initial infection, one-third experienced neurological or psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychosis.
According to a GAO report, the federal government is taking steps to fund additional long COVID research. For example, NIH has launched their $1.5 billion Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) initiative which combines data across more than 200 research sites.
NIH is using EHRs to group common characteristics of tens of thousands of volunteers to better identify risk factors and causes of long COVID. Similarly, CDC has contracted for a study where patients voluntarily share their health data through a cloud-based personal health platform,
Other agencies are supporting long COVID patients. The Department of Justice has issued guidance stating that the condition can be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Some long COVID patients may qualify for SSDI if they meet certain requirements. CDC has developed long COVID guidance for healthcare providers and the public. Another agency within HHS, the Administration for Community Living has published a guide to community-based resources to help connect affected people to services such as transportation and personal care attendants.
Non-governmental experts and organizations are also addressing long COVID. For example, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine are holding long COVID workshops to discuss a number of long COVID topics. In addition, researchers are applying machine learning to patient data to identify symptoms, and many hospital systems are forming specialized clinics to treat and support patients.
Go to https://www.gao/assets/gap-22-105666.pdf for the full GAO report. Science & Tech Spotlight: Long COVID