Prevalence and Characteristics of Long COVID 7–12 Months After Hospitalization Among Patients From an Urban Safety-Net Hospital: A Pilot Study

• Published in: AJPM Focus Vol. 2; no. 3; p. 100091
• Main Authors: Hua, Miao Jenny, Gonakoti, Sriram, Shariff, Ruhi, Corpuz, Carlos, Acosta, R. Alfonso Hernandez, Chang, Hillary, Asemota, Iriagbonse, Gobbi, Elizabeth, Rezai, Katayoun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 01-09-2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: health equity; Long COVID; post-acute sequelae of COVID-19; post-COVID-19 syndrome; post-acute sequelae of COVID-19; health equity; Long COVID; post-COVID-19 syndrome
• ISSN: 2773-0654; 2773-0654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2023.100091

•A total of 80% of patients admitted for COVID-19 at a safety-net hospital were Black or Hispanic.•The prevalence of long COVID was 34% in this cohort after a median of 255 days.•The severity of acute COVID-19 was associated with the risk of long COVID.
Little is known about the burden of long COVID among Black and Hispanic patients in the U.S. We surveyed adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at John H. Roger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, a safety-net hospital predominantly serving Black and Hispanic patients in Chicago, for persistent symptoms after hospitalization to assess prevalence and identify risk factors.
Cross-sectional data were obtained over 6 months after discharge from patients hospitalized at John H. Roger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between October 1, 2020 and January 12, 2021. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between patient characteristics and symptom persistence.
Of 145 patients surveyed at a median follow-up period of 255 days (IQR=238–302), 80% were Black or Hispanic, and 50 (34%) reported at least 1 symptom. In multivariable logistic regression, the risk of long COVID was associated with the severity of acute COVID-19 illness, consistent with findings from population-based cohort studies.
Long COVID prevalence remains high 7 months to a year after an initial illness in a majority Black and Hispanic hospitalized cohort. There is a long-term and ongoing need to assess and address the burden of long COVID, especially among minority communities disproportionately affected by acute COVID-19.