Long COVID is a multifarious and extremely debilitating condition, with symptoms persisting for months or even years after the initial COVID-19 infection. Although there is a growing understanding of the general prevalence and characteristics of long COVID in the population, there is a dearth of research that examines its impact on elderly individuals. This article aims to fill that gap, providing insights from an observational cohort study of over 2 million adults in the United States, delving into the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of long COVID on elderly patients. By doing so, it seeks to shed light on the unique challenges faced by the elderly population, and the potential ways in which they can be supported and treated as the world continues to grapple with the ongoing pandemic.
Long COVID, a condition where people continue to experience symptoms for an extended period after a COVID-19 infection, is difficult to estimate in the elderly population due to underreporting. While long COVID is considered a novel disease, other viral or bacterial infections have been known to cause prolonged illnesses. A group of researchers have postulated that some influenza patients may develop residual symptoms that match the diagnostic criteria for long COVID, a condition they call “long Flu.” The researchers conducted a cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries over 65 to estimate the incidence of both long COVID and long Flu using the World Health Organization consensus definition. They compared the incidence, symptomatology, and healthcare utilization between the two conditions.
The study identified long COVID in 16.6% of outpatients and 29.2% of inpatients among 2,071,532 COVID-19 patients diagnosed between April 2020 and June 2021. However, using only the designated long COVID code resulted in significantly lower estimates. Among 933,877 influenza patients, 17% of outpatients and 24.6% of inpatients fit the long Flu definition. The researchers found that long COVID patients had higher incidences of dyspnea, fatigue, palpitations, loss of taste and smell, and neurocognitive symptoms compared to long Flu patients. Long COVID patients were also more likely to access inpatient and outpatient healthcare services than long Flu patients.
The study suggests that relying solely on designated long COVID diagnostic codes results in underreporting of long COVID cases. The researchers observed that about 30% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients developed long COVID, and in a similar proportion of influenza patients, long COVID-like symptoms (long Flu) can be observed after influenza. However, there were notable differences in symptomatology between long COVID and long Flu, and the impact of long COVID on healthcare utilization was higher than long Flu. The findings suggest a need for more comprehensive and accurate tracking of long COVID and related conditions in the elderly population.
In conclusion, this observational cohort study sheds new light on the prevalence and characteristics of long COVID in elderly patients. The results suggest that age and certain underlying health conditions may increase the risk of long COVID, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and support for the aging population. Further research is needed to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19, which will help inform strategies for prevention, detection, and treatment. Ultimately, by learning more about long COVID, we can better serve our elderly communities and ensure that they receive the care and support they need to stay healthy and thrive in the years to come.
