This week, Solve M.E. invited members of the press to a special event announcing the release of our new whitepaper, Long Covid Impact on Adult Americans: Early Indicators Estimating Prevalence and Cost.
The event was moderated by Megan Greene (Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School; Global Chief Economist at Kroll Institute) and included panelists Oved Amitay (Solve M.E. CEO), David Kotok (Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, Cumberland Advisors), and whitepaper co-authors Emily Taylor (Solve M.E. VP of Advocacy and Engagement), Philippa Dunne (Project Manager, Adroit Data and Insight), and Melissa Smallwood (Graduate Student, Arizona State University: School for the Future of Innovation in Society).
Our panel discussed key findings in the whitepaper, as well as the financial, social, and emotional impact of Long Covid and post-infection illnesses. We also covered the current challenges faced by workplaces and communities, and what is needed moving forward to provide adequate support.
Watch a video of the event here.
Presenter slides are available here.
We co-authored this whitepaper to fill a void; to provide a preliminary analysis of a looming public health crisis. It is not a final product, but rather an open invitation for others to use their own data and skillsets to better understand the impact of Long Covid so the true scope of this mass disabling event can be addressed.
Long Covid Impact on Adult Americans: Early Indicators Estimating Prevalence and Cost includes statistical breakdowns for all 50 states, plus national figures. Of note:
- 22 million U.S. adults are living with Long Covid (LC) – close to 7% of the population.
- 7 million are experiencing Disabling Long Covid (DLC) – 2.3% of the population.
- As of January 2022, the cumulative cost of LC is estimated at more than $386 billion. (This estimate includes lost wages, lost savings, and medical expenses incurred by individuals. It does not include costs incurred by businesses or government agencies.)
- California has the highest number of cases of all 50 states, with more than 4 million LC cases and 817,000 DLC cases. Cumulative costs are estimated at $43.2 billion.
Click on the map above to see a state-by-state breakdown of impact.
Solve M.E. has been a leader in the post-infection disease community for nearly 40 years. We’ve worked to address the lack of treatment, cures, and adequate research funding for ME/CFS. We know that people with ME/CFS have endured unnecessary suffering and have felt invisible and left behind. This history should not be repeated with Long Covid and we’re committed to helping the millions who suffer.
Want to get involved?
- Sign up for Advocacy Month, our nationwide advocacy effort to connect people with ME/CFS, Long Covid, and other chronic illnesses; scientists; clinicians, and caregivers to share their unique stories with Congress.
- Use our action kit to tell your congressional representatives to support funding for Long Covid and other post-infection diseases.
- Join our You + ME Registry and help us uncover causes and identify treatments for ME/CFS, Long Covid, and other post-infection diseases.
- Support all of our efforts to #StopTheLongHaul by making a gift today!
