Women and patients with multiple COVID-19 infections face an increased risk of developing long COVID, recent studies suggest.
Here are seven findings from the latest research on long COVID:
1. Multiple infections raise the risk of long COVID
The number of COVID-19 infections is positively associated with the risk of developing long COVID, according to findings published in the February issue of The Lancet Regional Health – Americas.
Researchers at Stony (N.Y.) Brook University identified 475 long COVID patients among more than 2,500 first responders previously infected with COVID-19. Patients experienced symptoms of fatigue, mental fog and respiratory problems.
Of the 475 patients, 403 (84.8%) had experienced multiple COVID-19 infections between March 2020 and February 2024.
2. No major changes in 2nd year
Most patients do not recover after having long COVID for a year, according to research published Jan. 23 in PLOS Medicine.
The study analyzed 982 adults with long COVID and 576 controls who visited one of several health centers in Germany for comprehensive assessments. In the long COVID cohort, 67.6% experienced persistent symptoms after 14 months. Common symptoms included fatigue, exercise intolerance and cognition deficits.
Those with persistent long COVID often experienced loss in handgrip strength, maximal oxygen consumption and ventilatory efficiency compared to the control group.
3. The financial cost
Assuming symptoms last one year, managing long COVID can cost a patient between $5,084 and $11,646, according to simulations. Most of these costs stem from productivity losses, a recent study found.
For employers, the annual cost is $1.99 billion to $6.49 billion, and for third-party payers, $21 million to $68.5 million. This economic burden outpaces those of some chronic diseases, including carpal tunnel, Lyme disease and psoriasis, according to the study.
The researchers accounted for clinical courses, health effects and associated costs such as absenteeism and presenteeism.
Results were published Jan. 22 in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
4. Women are at higher risk than men
Women have a greater likelihood of developing long COVID compared to men, according to a study published Jan. 22 in JAMA.
Researchers from Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital, Houston-based University of Texas Health Science Center and other institutions analyzed sex differences in long COVID risk.
Among 12,276 patients who previously contracted COVID-19, the female sex was linked to an overall 1.31 times higher risk of long COVID.
5. Racial disparities in symptoms among children
A study found that Hispanic, Black, and Asian American and Pacific Islander children with long COVID were more likely than white children to experience certain symptoms, including cognitive function issues and hair loss.
The research, published Jan. 21 in Nature Communications, examined 225,723 children and adolescents who had COVID-19 between March 2020 and October 2022.
Compared to non-Hispanic white children, AAPI children had a higher risk of developing at least one long COVID-related condition. Black children were more likely to experience cognitive issues, Hispanic children showed a greater prevalence of hair loss, and AAPI children reported increased respiratory symptoms and dysautonomia.
6. Neurologic symptoms affect cognitive function
Long COVID patients with neurologic symptoms reported impaired verbal short-term and working memory, according to research published Jan 11 in Nature Scientific Reports.
The study followed 60 long COVID patients with neurologic symptoms, 15 patients without long COVID and 15 healthy controls.
Compared to the other groups, patients with long COVID demonstrated more fatigue, reduced mental flexibility and impaired reaction times in neuropsychological tests.
7. Paxlovid shows mixed results for long COVID symptoms
A small study published Jan. 6 in Nature Communications found some benefit in using Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) for long COVID. Among 13 long COVID patients who took Paxlovid, nine reported improvements, while four experienced no changes.
However, other studies have not shown that Paxlovid improves long COVID symptoms.