Understanding the Prevalence of Long Covid: A Global Perspective
Long Covid, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), has emerged as a significant concern in the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. It poses a challenge due to its unpredictable nature and wide-ranging symptoms.
Estimating the prevalence of Long Covid is complex due to variations in reporting mechanisms and definitions across regions. However, some government agencies and health organizations worldwide have been diligently collecting data to shed light on its scope.
The Canadian government agency Statistics Canada reported on information gathered for a June 2023 Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey and stated that 3.5 million adults reported ever having long term symptoms at least 3 months after a COVID infection and 2.1 million individuals, or 6.8% of all adults in Canada, continue to endure Long COVID, of these more than 1 in 5 reported missing on average 24 days of missed school or work.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported from a survey conducted in 2022 that nationally, 6.4% of non-institutionalized US adults reported ever having experienced Long COVID.
In the United Kingdom, the last official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) gathered from a survey of private households in the UK dated February 2023, was that 2.0 million people or 3.1% of the UK population were living with Long COVID.
At least 17 million persons across the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region may have had Long COVID, according to modelling undertaken for WHO/Europe by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine in the US.
For the rest of the World, accurate global figures are hard to come by as a significant proportion of Low and Middle Income countries lack the infrastructure to collect figures. Estimates are that Long COVID occurs in 10-20% of cases, so with roughly 775 million cases of COVID-19 reported globally, a conservative estimate of the Worldwide prevalence of Long COVID is 78 million people.
Sadly, the global population of Long Haulers continues to rise with every wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
In conclusion, Long Covid is a multifaceted phenomenon with a global footprint. As scientists continue to unravel its mysteries, concerted efforts in research, healthcare provision, and public awareness are crucial to support those grappling with its long-term effects and to mitigate its impact on societies worldwide.
We hope that Long Covid The Answers can bring relief and comfort with the provision of evidence based, credible information.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that approximately 10-30% of COVID-19 patients experience prolonged symptoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
