Investigating the Variables Associated with Having a Functional Limitation Among Adults with Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Database Study Using the United States Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Functional limitations are one of many potential clinical consequences for people living with long COVID. However, medical, health, and demographic variables associated with functional limitations in this population have not been fully characterized. The objective of this study was to identify variables associated with having a functional limitation among United States (US) adults with long COVID in a nationally representative dataset. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analysis of US adults in the 2023 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). A multivariable logistic regression model was created to identify factors associated with reporting functional limitations versus no functional limitations in people with MEPS-defined long COVID. RESULTS: In this study, 26% of adults with MEPS-defined long COVID reported functional limitations. Factors that were associated with functional limitations in people with long COVID included non-married status versus married (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8), having 2-4 chronic health conditions versus 0-1 conditions (OR = 2.8), being unemployed versus employed (OR = 3.5), having public health insurance versus uninsured (OR = 5.3), and reporting pain interference versus no pain (little pain interference, OR = 2.3; moderate interference, OR = 8.8; extreme/quite a bit of interference, OR = 16.9). No other associations were found. CONCLUSIONS: Functional limitations are common in people experiencing long COVID. Several factors were associated with functional limitations in this population of individuals with long COVID, although whether the functional limitation was caused by long COVID or another problem was unknown. Further research is needed to better understand factors associated with long COVID and to explore the scope and severity of functional limitations in long COVID.