Long Covid is more prevalent among Americans with disabilities, new CDC data show

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a trove of data on Americans with disabilities that found that more than a quarter of U.S. adults have a disability — over 70 million people, a bump from prior years. This slice of the population was also much more likely to report long Covid symptoms such as chronic fatigue and brain fog. This comorbidity looms large for many disabled communities as another surge in Covid cases sweeps the country.

The data, gathered in 2022, is part of the agency’s Disability and Health Data System, which has annual state and national-level data stretching back to 2016. This is the first year that the agency has released long Covid data, finding that 11% of people with disabilities had long Covid symptoms while only 7% of people without disabilities reported symptoms.

For many disabilities, the highest populations exist in a swath that extends from the Deep South and Louisiana up to Appalachian communities in West Virginia and Ohio. Disability benefits claims are typically highest in these areas, but for long Covid, the geography shifted west. Idaho and other states along the Continental Divide saw much higher rates of symptoms, with Montana recording the highest prevalence at 18%.

Though people with disabilities are reporting more long Covid symptoms than their non-disabled counterparts, it’s unclear why these numbers are higher. Since long Covid emerged during the pandemic, the disease has confounded scientists with a confusing array of symptoms that complicate easy diagnoses. Meanwhile, the people experiencing long Covid are suffering so much that their burden of disease outstrips that of both heart disease and cancer patients.

To combat this uncertainty and ward off potential pain, many people with disabilities are advocating for greater mask usage again.

STAT’s coverage of disability issues is supported by grants from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Commonwealth Fund. Our financial supporters are not involved in any decisions about our journalism.