Strategies To Mitigate Long COVID Risk Remain A Public Health Priority, Study Suggests

Infectious Disease Advisor (5/2, Basilio) reported a study found that “strategies to prevent and mitigate the risk for long COVID remain a public health priority, with the highest disease incidence observed in older adults, women, and those with preexisting conditions.” Researchers failed to observe any evidence “among adult and pediatric patients across 3 large cohorts to suggest reduced risk for long COVID over time, indicating long COVID remains an ongoing public health concern.” Across all three cohorts, “researchers noted higher long COVID risk among female vs male patients, particularly in the N3C cohort. Intensive care unit admission during the index event also consistently contributed to significantly higher long COVID risk.” Researchers concluded, “Peaks in long-COVID cases aligned with emergence of new viral variants, suggesting a potential association between viral dynamics and the development of long-COVID.” The study was published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.