Long-term coronavirus disease 2019 (long-COVID) refers to persistent symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) lingering beyond four weeks of initial infection. Approximately 30% of COVID-19 survivors develop prolonged symptoms. Communities of color are disproportionately affected by comorbidities, increasing the risk of severe COVID-19 and potentially leading to long-COVID. This study aims to identify trends in health disparities related to COVID-19 cases, which can help unveil potential populations at risk for long-COVID. All North Carolina (NC) counties ( n = 100) were selected as a case study. Cases and vaccinations per 1000 population were calculated based on the NC Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 dashboard with reports current as of 8 October 2021, which were stratified by age groups and race/ethnicity. Then, NC COVID-19 cases were correlated to median household income, poverty, population density, and social vulnerability index themes. We observed a negative correlation between cases ( p < 0.05) and deaths ( p < 0.01) with both income and vaccination status. Moreover, there was a significant positive association between vaccination status and median household income ( p < 0.01). Our results highlight the prevailing trend between exacerbated COVID-19 infection and low-income/under-resourced communities. Consequently, efforts and resources should be channeled to these communities to effectively monitor, diagnose, and treat against COVID-19 and potentially prevent an overwhelming number of long-COVID cases.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Symptoms, long-COVID, persistent, Health disparity, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, SARS-CoV-2, vaccination, severe COVID-19, Human, Infection, Comorbidities, risk, Symptom, Population, Health, COVID-19 infection, death, Community, age, group, resource, diagnose, association, COVID-19 cases, COVID-19 case, help, effort, treat, North, negative correlation, Department, positive, service, MONITOR, survivor, Prevent, highlight, initial, selected, identify, affected, develop, exacerbated, median, calculated, correlated, stratified, 【제목키워드】 trend, disparity, North, field, Preparing,