Prevalence and Impact of Long COVID Among Hispanic Households in Northeast Tennessee
Abstract
Long COVID, one of the serious consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, refers to symptoms that continue for three or more months after the acute phase of infection. Minority populations, particularly Hispanic communities, were disproportionately affected by COVID-19; however, limited community-level data on Long COVID restrict the ability of health authorities to identify and support affected families. Our primary research question was: What is the prevalence of Long COVID in a convenience sample of Hispanic households in Northeast Tennessee? A secondary question was to determine whether symptom persistence and the impact of Long COVID on daily functioning differed by age and gender. A cross-sectional survey of 81 Hispanic households, representing 319 household members, was conducted through structured, in-person interviews in 2023-2024. Participants reported whether they experienced persistent symptoms lasting 3 months or more, their current symptom status, and how symptoms affected their daily activities. Frequencies and percentages were obtained to describe the distribution of outcomes by age groups (<18 and ≥18 years). Forty percent (40.3%) of participants who had COVID-19 (n = 134) reported symptoms lasting three or more months. The median age of individuals with Long COVID was 32 years (range: 1–64), and two-thirds (68.52%) were female. The prevalence of Long COVID was higher among infected adults (48.4%) than among infected children (20.5%). Among individuals with Long COVID, 41.3% of adults and 37.5% of children reported that they were still experiencing symptoms at the time of the survey, and 15.2% of adults responded “a lot” when asked about the impact of Long COVID on daily functioning. These findings show the burden and impact of Long COVID among Hispanic households in Northeast Tennessee, especially among adults and women, and highlight the need for continued clinical monitoring and targeted public health support for underserved Hispanic populations affected by Long COVID.
Start Time
15-4-2026 9:00 AM
End Time
15-4-2026 10:00 AM
Room Number
304
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Subtype
Grad/Comp Orals
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Graduate
Faculty Mentor
Mildred Maisonet Nogueras
Prevalence and Impact of Long COVID Among Hispanic Households in Northeast Tennessee
304
Long COVID, one of the serious consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, refers to symptoms that continue for three or more months after the acute phase of infection. Minority populations, particularly Hispanic communities, were disproportionately affected by COVID-19; however, limited community-level data on Long COVID restrict the ability of health authorities to identify and support affected families. Our primary research question was: What is the prevalence of Long COVID in a convenience sample of Hispanic households in Northeast Tennessee? A secondary question was to determine whether symptom persistence and the impact of Long COVID on daily functioning differed by age and gender. A cross-sectional survey of 81 Hispanic households, representing 319 household members, was conducted through structured, in-person interviews in 2023-2024. Participants reported whether they experienced persistent symptoms lasting 3 months or more, their current symptom status, and how symptoms affected their daily activities. Frequencies and percentages were obtained to describe the distribution of outcomes by age groups (<18 and>≥18 years). Forty percent (40.3%) of participants who had COVID-19 (n = 134) reported symptoms lasting three or more months. The median age of individuals with Long COVID was 32 years (range: 1–64), and two-thirds (68.52%) were female. The prevalence of Long COVID was higher among infected adults (48.4%) than among infected children (20.5%). Among individuals with Long COVID, 41.3% of adults and 37.5% of children reported that they were still experiencing symptoms at the time of the survey, and 15.2% of adults responded “a lot” when asked about the impact of Long COVID on daily functioning. These findings show the burden and impact of Long COVID among Hispanic households in Northeast Tennessee, especially among adults and women, and highlight the need for continued clinical monitoring and targeted public health support for underserved Hispanic populations affected by Long COVID.
