CDC Report: Long COVID Can Be Deadly

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Facts

  • In a study published on Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "long COVID" was cited as the cause of death for at least 3,544 Americans during the first 2.5 years of the pandemic.
  • Although this represents 0.3% of the over 1M Americans who have died from the virus, the study's findings suggest that while long COVID is correlated to long-term illness it "can be a cause of death."
  • The data showed that women are more likely to develop long COVID, but men have a higher percentage of long COVID deaths. Most documented deaths occurred in people between the ages of 75 and 84 at roughly 30%; those 85 years and older represented the second-largest death total.
  • While this report is the first attempt by the CDC to account for the death toll of long COVID, some health experts believe the results are a significant underestimation considerating that 30% of people who contract the virus report experiencing long COVID symptoms.
  • Epidemiologist Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, who didn't participate in the CDC study, said, "We're pretty good at capturing acute disease," but the medical profession has a "major, major blind spot" when it comes to anticipating long-term outcomes.
  • Some researchers expressed concern that the data doesn't account for people who suffered suicidal thoughts, suicidal acts, or suicidal ideation and completed those acts following an acute COVID infection.

Sources: Axios, Washington Post, CNN, and LA Times.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by NPR. As the world emerges from the worst of the COVID pandemic more studies will need to be conducted to better understand what the virus does to the human body and how those changes will impact the infected in both the short- and long-term. Until medical professionals fully understand the pathology of the virus and subsequent disease, we must support patients with their troubling long COVID experiences.
  • Narrative B, as provided by CNN. Medical experts are excited and hopeful to see the CDC studying deaths from long COVID. Now that institutions are coming on board, doctors can also be better educated on the long-term consequences. The data only shows a snapshot of the long COVID tragedy, but the profession is moving in the right direction.