Many Black US Patients with Long COVID Being Missed, Analysis Reveals

Long COVID may be underdiagnosed among Black patients despite similar symptom burdens, highlighting a potential gap in equitable diagnosis and care.

Analysis of electronic health records from approximately 2.4 million U.S. patients found Black patients were 6% less likely than White patients to receive a long COVID diagnosis despite comparable symptom profiles,

while no significant differences were observed for other racial and ethnic groups. Fewer than 1% of patients receive a documented long COVID diagnosis, although prior research suggests more than 10% may develop the condition.

The findings suggest a need for more equitable diagnostic practices, provider education, and improved diagnostic criteria to reduce disparities in identification and treatment. Read the full article from CIDRAP here.