Samantha Anderer, JAMA, doi: 10.1001/jama.2026.1021
Onset of post–COVID-19 condition, also known as long COVID, has become less prevalent in the US since the start of the pandemic, and recovery rates have improved.
Research published in JAMA Network Open examined nationally representative data from the 2022 to 2024 National Health Interview Survey. About 40% of adults included in the sample reported prior SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2022, which increased to 60% in 2024. Among those with infections, weighted prevalence of long COVID decreased from 20% to 14% and recovery rates from 2022 to 2024 increased from 51% to 60%.
Females, individuals aged 35 to 64 years, and those with low household income had higher odds of reporting long COVID, the researchers found, and recovery remained less likely among adults aged 35 years or older.
Although prevalence decreased and recovery increased over time, many adults continue to experience prolonged symptoms, the researchers said. As no treatment for long COVID has demonstrated clear efficacy, they highlighted a need to understand the biological differences between those who recover and those who do not.
Article Information
Published Online: March 20, 2026. doi:10.1001/jama.2026.1021