Long Covid Has Claimed At Least 3,500 In The U.S. So Far, CDC Report Says

Topline

Long Covid has been linked to at least 3,544 deaths in the United States so far, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which places a spotlight on the lingering impact Covid-19 can have on people who manage to survive an infection.

Key Facts

The report by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is based on an analysis of death certificates issued across the country between January 2020 and June 2022 that mention long Covid or other related terms like Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), post-Covid syndrome or long haul Covid as one of the causes.

The CDC defines long Covid or PASC as “long-term symptoms experienced after a person has recovered from acute infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.”

Long Covid accounted for only 0.3% of all deaths reported across the country during the assessment period.

The study, however, warns the number likely underestimates the actual toll as the understanding of the long-term effects of Covid-19 is still evolving.

People above the age of 75 make up 56.9% of the total long Covid death toll with people above the age of 65 making up 78.4% of the number.

The long Covid toll appeared to be evenly split between males (51.5%) and females (48.5%) even though Covid-19 infections disproportionately killed more men than women.

What To Watch For

The CDC is expected to issue guidance to standardize reporting of deaths caused by long Covid which would be based on the findings of this report. According to CBS News, an exact date for the release of this guidance is yet to be set.

Key Background

While the proliferation of vaccines has helped in reducing the severity of the disease among those who are up to date on their inoculations, some experts have continued to warn that some people who recover from the disease may be left with lingering health issues with varying degrees of severity. Despite the prevalence of Covid infections, understanding of long Covid and its various impacts remains very poor. A recent peer-reviewed study published in JAMA showed that women and people who needed hospitalization for Covid are more likely to have long Covid. Among people who developed long Covid, an estimated 15% continued to have symptoms 12 months after being infected, the study found.

Further Reading

Long Covid Has Played Role in More Than 3,500 Deaths in U.S., C.D.C. Says (New York Times)

Women And Hospitalized Patients More Prone To Long Covid, Study Finds (Forbes)

Covid Reinfections May Boost Chances Of Death And Organ Failure, Study Finds — And The Risk Increases Each Time You Catch It (Forbes)

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