Thread by @TrustGoodwill

⚠️ I realize that people are tired of taking COVID safety precautions - but the findings from our Long COVID study are serious & I am DEEPLY CONCERNED that we as a nation are completely underestimating the potential long-term impact of repeated infections bit.ly/3XPCCYW

We conducted a mixed methods study where we (1) asked Black adults to report their Long COVID symptoms using open-ended survey responses, and (2) compared quantitative scores on measures like the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and suicidality outcomes across groups.

Findings show that nearly every participant mentioned physical health conditions when asked to qualitatively describe their symptoms. However, the quant. findings indicate that Black adults living w/ Long COVID reported significantly MORE anx, depress, suicide risk & psychosis

Qualitatively folks shared that they face everything from brain fog and memory loss to chest pain, prolong coughing, breathing issues, impaired vision, hair loss, pain throughout their bodies, etc.

Quantitatively we found that Black adults living with Long COVID reported worse outcomes across all of the mental health measures. Every single one.

Black adults' experiences have gone understudied and overlooked in Long COVID research. Let's not forget that Black Americans faced disproportionately MORE hospitalizations and deaths during the earliest waves of the pandemic. Research in this area is desperately needed.

Also - please note that the data are correlational so I cannot confirm any causal relationships here. Still, I think the findings are compelling and warrant grave concern.

Thankful to do this important work with @tajibewa -- my new favorite collaborator @NUFeinbergMed. Also very grateful for all the survivor-led orgs and efforts who are ringing the alarm on this global public health emergency. Please listen to them!

You can read the full paper online for FREE here. If you would like to download a pdf version then please email me. More than happy to share.
link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s…

I encourage us all to learn from and read the stories of those living with Long COVID. Here's some accounts to follow: @BIRcovidhealth @chiluvs1 @LCCampaign @LongCovidAP @LongCovidSOS @LongCovidFam @LauraMiers @ThePeoplesResp3 @PeoplesCDC @LongCFoundation and many others