A recent online survey published in JAMA Network Open found that 57% of individuals with long COVID, or post-COVID-19 condition, reported daily cognitive deficits and depression symptoms. This is higher than the 27% of individuals who had a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection but did not develop post-COVID-19 condition. The survey included 14,767 participants and was conducted from December 22, 2022, to May 5, 2023.
Participants were asked to rate their frequency of cognitive symptoms such as slowed thinking, trouble concentrating, difficulty multitasking, and decision-making problems. Of the 1,683 participants with post-COVID-19 condition, 56.7% reported experiencing at least one cognitive symptom daily. The most common symptoms were trouble concentrating and decision-making. The study found that younger individuals and those with lower income reported more daily symptoms.
The study also found that daily cognitive symptoms interfered with everyday functioning and reduced the likelihood of full-time employment. The number of daily cognitive symptoms was also linked to more severe depressive symptoms. However, the authors noted that the relationship between depression and long COVID is complex and not necessarily causal.