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Long COVID in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • David G. Blanchflower

    (Bruce V. Rauner Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, Dartmouth College, Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow, GLO, Bloomberg and NBER)

  • Alex Bryson

    (Professor of Quantitative Social Science, Social Research Institute, University College London, NIESR and IZA)

Abstract

Although yet to be clearly identified as a clinical condition, there is immense concern at the health and wellbeing consequences of long COVID. Using data collected from nearly half a million Americans in the period June 2022-December 2022 in the US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey (HPS), we find 14 percent reported suffering long COVID at some point, half of whom reported it at the time of the survey. Its incidence varies markedly across the United States – from 11 percent in Hawaii to 18 percent in West Virginia – and is higher for women than men, among Whites compared with Blacks and Asians, and declines with rising education and income. It peaks in midlife in the same way as negative affect. Ever having had long COVID is strongly associated with negative affect (anxiety, depression, worry and a lack of interest in things). The effect is larger among those who currently report long COVID, especially if they report severe symptoms. In contrast, those who report having had short COVID report higher wellbeing than those who report never having had COVID. Long COVID is also strongly associated with physical mobility problems, and with problems dressing and bathing. It is also associated with mental problems as indicated by recall and understanding difficulties. Again, the associations are strongest among those who currently report long COVID, while those who said they had had short COVID have fewer physical and mental problems than those who report never having had COVID. Vaccination is associated with lower negative affect, including among those who reported having had long COVID.

Suggested Citation

  • David G. Blanchflower & Alex Bryson, 2023. "Long COVID in the United States," DoQSS Working Papers 23-01, Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London.
    • Handle: RePEc:qss:dqsswp:2301
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David G. Blanchflower & Carol L. Graham, 2022. "The Mid-Life Dip in Well-Being: a Critique," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 161(1), pages 287-344, May.
    2. Blanchflower, David, 2020. "Experienced Life Cycle Satisfaction in Europe: A Comment," Review of Behavioral Economics, now publishers, vol. 7(2), pages 197-200, May.
    3. Brendan M. Price, 2022. "Long COVID, Cognitive Impairment, and the Stalled Decline in Disability Rates," FEDS Notes 2022-08-05-2, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. David G. Blanchflower & Alex Bryson, 2023. "Were COVID and the Great Recession Well-being Reducing?," NBER Working Papers 31497, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Long COVID; negative affect; anxiety; depression; mobility problems; mental health; vaccine;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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