1-year adverse outcomes in adults with long COVID

Editor's Note

This study by researchers at Elevance Health, Inc, Indianapolis, Indiana, finds increased rates of adverse outcomes over a 1-year period in adults who survived the acute phase of COVID-19.

A total of 13,435 individuals with post-COVID-19 condition (ie, long COVID) and 26,870 individuals with no evidence of COVID-19 were analyzed.

During 1-year follow-up, those with long COVID experienced increased healthcare use for the following adverse outcomes:

• cardiac arrhythmias
• pulmonary embolism
• ischemic stroke
• coronary artery disease
• heart failure
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• asthma.

The long-COVID cohort also had increased mortality—2.8% of those with long COVID vs 1.2% of controls died, for an excess death rate of 16.4 per 1,000 individuals.

The findings show a need for continued monitoring of at-risk individuals, particularly cardiovascular and pulmonary management.