Long COVID

'Long COVID' refers to the wide range of long-lasting symptoms experienced by some patients after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. The most common symptoms include fatigue, headache, brain fog, shortness of breath, hair loss, and pain. At this time, there are many knowledge gaps related to Long COVID, including the prevalence of the condition, the impact of the symptoms on survivors' ability to function, and the long-term course of the condition. While many individuals with Long COVID recover within one year, others experience little or no decrease in symptom severity over time.


Long COVID symptoms can affect a person's ability to work and otherwise function in daily life, so people with the condition may need to utilize programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI). The Social Security Administration (SSA), which administers both of these programs, requested that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine host a public workshop to discuss research into the long-term health effects of COVID-19, their impacts on individuals and populations, and how the SSDI and SSI programs can support individuals who suffer disability as a result of Long COVID. This publication summarizes the presentation and discussion of the workshop.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
1 Introduction
2 Overview of Long COVID and Disability
3 Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Implications for Recovery
4 Patient and Caregiver Perspectives on Living with Long COVID
5 Long-Term Impairments and Functional Limitations Related to Long COVID
6 Clinical Practices and System Approaches for Improving Health and Recovery from Long COVID
7 Exploring Future Directions in the Treatment of Long COVID
Appendix A: References
Appendix B: Workshop Agenda
Appendix C: Biographical Sketches of Workshop Planning Committee Members and Speakers