Similarities between long COVID and cognitive impairment and potential implications; Results from the 2022 BRFSS (preprint)

BackgroundCOVID has been linked to cognitive issues with brain fog a common complaint among adults reporting long COVID (symptoms lasting 3 or more months). ObjectiveTo study similarities and differences between cognitive impairment (CI) (the cognitive disability measure) and long COVID. MethodsUsing 2022 BRFSS data from 50 states and 169,894 respondents in 29 states with COVID vaccine data, respondents with CI and long COVID were compared in unadjusted analysis and logistic regression. Apparent vaccine effectiveness was compared in the 29 states. ResultsPrevalence of long COVID was 7.4% (95% CI 7.3-7.6) and CI was 13.4% (13.2-13.6) with both rates higher among women, ages 18-64 years, Hispanics, American Indians, ever smokers, those with depression, e-cigarette users, and those with more of the co-morbidities of diabetes, asthma, COPD, and obesity. The strong association between long COVID and CI was confirmed. Apparent vaccine effectiveness of 3 or more doses vs <3 was 38% for long COVID and 35% for CI, in both cases reducing rates for 3 or more doses to those comparable to adults with 0 comorbidities and showing dose response gradients. For CI, apparent vaccine effectiveness was similar for respondents with or without long COVID. Logistic regression confirmed most results except the magnitude of vaccine effectiveness on CI was reduced in some models while vaccine effectiveness for long COVID was confirmed. ConclusionsMore research is needed to understand the apparent effectiveness of COVID vaccines on CI but, if confirmed, results could expand the list of non-infectious outcomes for which mRNA vaccines can be effective.

Comparing surveyed adults with long COVID and those with just a positive test helps put COVID into perspective (preprint)

Introduction: Among adults who test positive for COVID-19, some develop long COVID (symptoms lasting [≥]3 months), and some do not. We compared 3 groups on selected measures to help determine strategies to reduce COVID impact. Methods: Using Stata and data for 385,617 adults from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we compared adults reporting long COVID, those with just a positive test, and those who never tested positive, on several health status and risk factor measures plus vaccination rates (data for 178,949 adults in 29 states). Results: Prevalence of just COVID was 26.5% (95% CI 26.2-26.8) and long COVID was 7.4% (7.3-7.6). Compared with adults with just COVID those with long COVID had worse rates for 13 of 17 measures of chronic disease, disability, and poor health status, while those with just COVID had the best results for 15 of the 17 measures among all 3 groups. The 5 risk factors (obesity, diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease, and COPD) previously associated with COVID deaths, increased long COVID but not just COVID rates, which were highest among younger and higher income adults. Adults with long COVID had the highest rate among the 3 groups for any COVID risk factors and data from 29 states showed they had the lowest rates for [≥]3 vaccine doses of 35.6%, vs. 42.7% and 50.3% for those with just a positive test, and neither, respectively. Vaccination with [≥]3 vaccines vs. <3 reduced long COVID rates by 38%, and just COVID rates by 16%. Conclusions: Results show the seriousness of long COVID vs. just a positive test and that increasing vaccine coverage by targeting adults with risk factors shows promise for reducing COVID impact.

Prevalence of COVID-19 and long COVID - Results from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 50 states. (preprint)

Recent MMWR results estimate long COVID prevalence at 6.0% in June 2023, while the percentage of those with COVID reporting long COVID was 11.0%. The 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System addressed COVID (positive test) and long COVID (symptoms lasting [≥]3 months) in a population-based sample from each state and DC. Results for 385,617 adults indicated 34.4% had ever had COVID, 21.9% of whom reported long COVID, representing 7.4% of all adults. State rates ranged from 25.4% - 40.8% for COVID and 4.1%-11.1% for long COVID. Groups with high rates for both included women, younger adults, those with children in the household, plus those reporting obesity, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, or cardiovascular disease (CVD). Highest adjusted odds ratios for COVID were 2.34 (95% CI 2.20-2.49) for age 18-24 years vs. age 65+ while for long COVID it was 2.81 (2.53-3.13) for 3+ of the 5 conditions. Most frequently reported problems for those with long COVID were fatigue (26.0%), shortness of breath (18.8%), loss of taste or smell (17.2%), and memory problems (9.9%). Results show the need for state-based data and suggest a focus on younger adults is needed to address COVID and long COVID.

Reducing COVID-19 hospitalization risk through behavior change (preprint)

Our objective was to determine strategies that could potentially reduce the risk of hospitalizations from COVID-19 due to underlying conditions. We used data (N=444,649) from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to identify potentially modifiable risk factors associated with reporting any of the underlying conditions (cardiovascular disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension or obesity) found to increase risk of US hospitalizations for COVID-19. Risk factors included lifetime smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. Multiple logistic regression in Stata produced adjusted odds ratios (AORs) used to estimate population attributable-risk (PAR) in Excel. PARs for the 3 risk factors ranged from 12.4% for inactivity to 15.6% for diet for a combined PAR of 36.3%, implying that total elimination of these 3 risk factors could potentially reduce underlying conditions as much as 36%. This suggests that reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations might be a measurable and feasible US goal for the coronavirus pandemic. The simple lifestyle changes of increasing physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption could reduce obesity, a key underlying condition and risk factor for 4 others. Reducing obesity and inactivity may also boost immunity. With uncertainly around how long the pandemic might last, other proposed strategies include wearing face masks when social distancing is not feasible, and addressing the special issues for nursing home residents. Such actions have the potential to lessen the impact of COVID-19 in the short term along with providing long term health benefits regarding chronic conditions.

Updated estimates of comorbidities associated with risk for COVID-19 complications based on US data (preprint)

We updated previous estimates (wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/8/20-0679_article) of adults with any underlying condition increasing risk of complications from COVID-19 using recent US hospitalization data instead of mortality data from China. This substitutes obesity for cancer in the definition and increased the percentage of adults reporting more than 1 condition to 56.0% (95% CI 55.7-56.4). When controlled for all measures listed, factors increasing odds of reporting any of the underlying conditions include being male, older, African American, American Indian, household income

Population based estimates of comorbidities affecting risk for complications from COVID-19 in the US (preprint)

We used 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data (N=444,649) to estimate the proportion of US adults who report comorbidities that suggest heightened risk of complications from COVID-19. Co-morbidities included cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and/or cancer other than skin, based on data from China. Overall 45.4% (95% CI 45.1-45.7) of adults reported any of the 6 comorbidities, increasing from 19.8% (19.1-20.4) for ages 18-29 years to 80.7% (79.5-81.8) for ages 80+ years. State rates ranged from 37.3% (36.2-38.5) in Utah to 58.7% (57.0-60.4) in West Virginia. Rates also varied by race/ethnicity, health insurance status, and employment. Excluded were residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Although almost certainly an underestimate of all adults at risk due to these exclusions, these results should help in estimating healthcare needs for adults with COVID-19 complications living in the community.