Assessing the Prevalence of Long-COVID Among Idahoans: Insights from 2022 BRFSS Data

Long-COVID is classified as a chronic condition lasting at least 3 months and occurring after SARS-CoV-2 infection (CDC, 2024b). Long-COVID can have a range of persisting symptoms, with these symptoms not being linked to another disease (CDC, 2024b; Huerne et al., 2023). In 2021 Long-COVID was classified as a disability, emphasizing Long-COVID as a significant public health issue (CDC, 2024b; Huerne et al., 2023). Idaho Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Data from 2022 was analyzed using prevalence data from the state of Idaho. Datawrapper, R and Google Sheets were used to investigate relationships between demographic groups and Long-COVID. Our findings showed that women had a significantly higher prevalence of Long-COVID than men, symptoms classified as physical were significantly higher than symptoms classified as mental, and there was no statistical difference in prevalence of Long-COVID among age groups or among Public Health Districts. Lasting impacts of Long-COVID can affect multiple organ systems and have the potential to exacerbate already existing conditions. Understanding which groups are at a higher risk to experience Long-COVID can guide targeted prevention efforts including COVID vaccines, washing hands, and seeking care if respiratory conditions worsen.