Infographics

Long COVID: What We Know

Published on: February 02, 2023.

Getting vaccinated

is the best way to prevent long COVID

About this Insights

Mild to moderate COVID-19 lasts about two weeks for most people. In others, the long-term effects of COVID-19 can cause lingering health problems that last for months. While it is clear that people with certain risk factors like high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and obesity are more likely to have a serious case of COVID-19, there is not a clear link between these risk factors and the long-term effects of COVID-19. While the percentage of people who have had COVID and currently report long COVID symptoms has recently declined, the rate remains high.

This infographic explores what we currently know about long COVID. It also offers methods for preventing long COVID through protective measures and vaccines. Although we still do not know much about long COVID, scientists are working to better understand this new and emerging illness and how different groups of people experience it.

Citations

Long COVID: What we know

Post-COVID conditions (PCC) or long COVID: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions, September 2022

Long COVID Duration
When long COVID can be first identified

Nearly 1 in 3 Adults: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Long COVID - Household Pulse Survey, 2022

Note: As part of an ongoing partnership with the Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) recently added questions to assess the prevalence of post-COVID-19 conditions (long COVID), on the experimental Household Pulse Survey.
Note: Data used from January 4, 2022- January 16, 2022 for - The percentage of adults who EVER experienced post-COVID conditions (long COVID) among those who ever having COVID

Economic burden of long COVID: Brookings Institution, New data shows long COVID is keeping as many as 4 million people out of work, August 2022

NOTE: Data comes from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Household Pulse Survey on Long COVID

What are the main symptoms

What are the main symptoms: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions, September 2022

Respiratory and heart
neurological symptoms
Digestive and other symptoms

Who is more likely to develop long COVID?

Who is more likely to develop long COVID: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions, September 2022

Health inequities may affect populations at risk for long COVID

Health inequities may affect populations at risk for long COVID: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions, September 2022