RECOVER study finds that social and economic hardship increase risk for Long COVID

Social risk factors—or conditions in a person’s daily life—can have a negative impact on a person’s health and well-being, raising risks for chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. To date, few research studies have examined the effect social risk factors may have on a person’s risk for developing Long COVID. 

In a nationwide study published in Annals of Internal Medicine, RECOVER researchers found a 2-3 times higher risk of developing Long COVID in study participants who have certain social risk factors, including financial hardship, food insecurity, experiences of medical discrimination, and skipped medical care due to cost. Researchers examined these factors in 3,700 participants in the initiative’s adult observational study, including pregnant women and non-pregnant adults from 33 different states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. 

The research also shows that social risk factors can have a cumulative and dose-dependent effect on a person’s Long COVID risk. This means that the more social risk factors a person faces, the higher their risk may be for the condition. The study’s researchers hope to determine whether these findings also extend to children with Long COVID, whether certain Long COVID symptoms may be linked to specific social factors, and how social factors might contribute to how long symptoms of Long COVID persist. 

Read the press release from Mass General Brigham.