Long COVID and Health Inequities: The Role of Primary Care
Zackary Berger, Vivian Valeria Altiery De Jesus, Sabrina A. Assoumou, Trisha Greenhalgh
Abstract
Policy Points An estimated 700,000 people in the United States have "long COVID," that is, symptoms of COVID-19 persisting beyond three weeks. COVID-19 and its long-term sequelae are strongly influenced by social determinants such as poverty and by structural inequalities such as racism and discrimination. Primary care providers are in a unique position to provide and coordinate care for vulnerable patients with long COVID. Policy measures should include strengthening primary care, optimizing data quality, and addressing the multiple nested domains of inequity.
Topics & Concepts
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)RacismInequalityPovertySocial inequalityPrimary careHealth careHealth equitySocial policyPublic healthSocial determinants of healthHealth policy2019-20 coronavirus outbreakPolitical scienceMedicineEconomic growthNursingFamily medicineEconomicsVirologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)PathologyMathematical analysisDiseaseLawOutbreakMathematicsLong-Term Effects of COVID-19COVID-19 and healthcare impactsEmergency and Acute Care Studies