The report says women (8.5%) were more likely than men (5.2%) to ever have long COVID-19, and women (4.4%) were also more likely than men (2.3%) to currently have long COVID-19

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that nearly 18 million US adults have grappled with long COVID.

The report, published on September 26, found that people who have had COVID may continue to have symptoms or develop new symptoms months after being infected with SARS-CoV-2.

“This can lead to long-term health and economic impact on those affected and on society,” the report says.

In 2022, the report adds, 6.9% of adults had long COVID and 3.4% had long COVID at the time of interview. Women were more likely than men to ever have or currently have long COVID.

The percentage of adults who ever had or currently had long COVID-19 varied by race and Hispanic origin.

The report says women (8.5%) were more likely than men (5.2%) to ever have long COVID-19, and women (4.4%) were also more likely than men (2.3%) to currently have long COVID-19.

In 2022, 6.9% of adults ever had long COVID and 3.4% of adults currently had long COVID. For both outcomes, prevalence estimates were higher among women compared with men.

Long COVID was defined as self-reporting the presence of symptoms for at least three months after having COVID among those who reported either a positive test or a doctor’s diagnosis of COVID.

Adults with family incomes at 400% or more of the federal poverty level were less likely than those with family incomes at 200%–399% to ever have or currently have long COVID..

The percentage of adults who ever had long Covid was lower in large central metropolitan areas compared with medium and small metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Current long Covid was lowest in large central metropolitan areas.

Also read: COVID pandemic is over but millions suffer from Long COVID