Long covid and mental and physical health: A cross‐sectional study of adults in California

Abstract Introduction Most people recover from COVID‐19 infection over a short period of time, but a minority of individuals experience symptoms over a longer duration (≥28 days), termed “long covid.” The purpose of the current study was to examine differences between individuals with a long covid d...

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Main Authors: Tyler B. Mason, Tara K. Knight, Ryan Lee, Shirin E. Herzig, Daniella Meeker, Jason N. Doctor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-03-01
Series:Public Health Challenges
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.152
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author Tyler B. Mason
Tara K. Knight
Ryan Lee
Shirin E. Herzig
Daniella Meeker
Jason N. Doctor
author_facet Tyler B. Mason
Tara K. Knight
Ryan Lee
Shirin E. Herzig
Daniella Meeker
Jason N. Doctor
author_sort Tyler B. Mason
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Most people recover from COVID‐19 infection over a short period of time, but a minority of individuals experience symptoms over a longer duration (≥28 days), termed “long covid.” The purpose of the current study was to examine differences between individuals with a long covid diagnosis (i.e., diagnosed long covid), who believe they do or might have long covid (i.e., self‐reported long covid), and people without long covid. Methods Adults who had been diagnosed with COVID‐19 completed survey questions about COVID‐19 history, long covid, and mental and physical health. Analysis of covariance models showed an effect of long covid group (i.e., diagnosed, self‐reported, and no long covid) with anxiety, depression, physical function, fatigue, social roles/activity limitations, and pain interference. Results Analyses demonstrated that the self‐reported long covid group had significantly greater anxiety and depression than the no long covid group. The diagnosed long covid group had significantly greater physical function problems than the no long covid group. Both diagnosed and self‐reported long covid groups had significantly greater fatigue, social roles/activity limitations, and pain interference as compared to the no long covid group. Conclusion Overall, physical health challenges were reported by individuals with long covid, with fatigue being the most significant symptom. In addition, negative mental health was only experienced by individuals with self‐reported long covid, suggesting the importance of long covid diagnosis and treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-64a5b50a66d4428b8dd36bf2d51a20ce2025-08-20T02:30:32ZengWileyPublic Health Challenges2769-24502024-03-0131n/an/a10.1002/puh2.152Long covid and mental and physical health: A cross‐sectional study of adults in CaliforniaTyler B. Mason0Tara K. Knight1Ryan Lee2Shirin E. Herzig3Daniella Meeker4Jason N. Doctor5Department of Population and Public Health Sciences University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Los Angeles California USASol Price School of Public Policy University of Southern California Los Angeles California USADepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Los Angeles California USADepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Los Angeles California USAYale School of Medicine Yale University New Haven Connecticut USASol Price School of Public Policy University of Southern California Los Angeles California USAAbstract Introduction Most people recover from COVID‐19 infection over a short period of time, but a minority of individuals experience symptoms over a longer duration (≥28 days), termed “long covid.” The purpose of the current study was to examine differences between individuals with a long covid diagnosis (i.e., diagnosed long covid), who believe they do or might have long covid (i.e., self‐reported long covid), and people without long covid. Methods Adults who had been diagnosed with COVID‐19 completed survey questions about COVID‐19 history, long covid, and mental and physical health. Analysis of covariance models showed an effect of long covid group (i.e., diagnosed, self‐reported, and no long covid) with anxiety, depression, physical function, fatigue, social roles/activity limitations, and pain interference. Results Analyses demonstrated that the self‐reported long covid group had significantly greater anxiety and depression than the no long covid group. The diagnosed long covid group had significantly greater physical function problems than the no long covid group. Both diagnosed and self‐reported long covid groups had significantly greater fatigue, social roles/activity limitations, and pain interference as compared to the no long covid group. Conclusion Overall, physical health challenges were reported by individuals with long covid, with fatigue being the most significant symptom. In addition, negative mental health was only experienced by individuals with self‐reported long covid, suggesting the importance of long covid diagnosis and treatment.https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.152COVID‐19fatiguelong covidmental healthphysical health
spellingShingle Tyler B. Mason
Tara K. Knight
Ryan Lee
Shirin E. Herzig
Daniella Meeker
Jason N. Doctor
Long covid and mental and physical health: A cross‐sectional study of adults in California
Public Health Challenges
COVID‐19
fatigue
long covid
mental health
physical health
title Long covid and mental and physical health: A cross‐sectional study of adults in California
title_full Long covid and mental and physical health: A cross‐sectional study of adults in California
title_fullStr Long covid and mental and physical health: A cross‐sectional study of adults in California
title_full_unstemmed Long covid and mental and physical health: A cross‐sectional study of adults in California
title_short Long covid and mental and physical health: A cross‐sectional study of adults in California
title_sort long covid and mental and physical health a cross sectional study of adults in california
topic COVID‐19
fatigue
long covid
mental health
physical health
url https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.152
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