Seniors more likely to develop long COVID than younger patients

• Older adults are among those who have grappled with long COVID: health problems lasting more than a month after a COVID infection.
• Research suggests seniors are more likely to develop the condition than the younger and middle-aged population.
• But in many seniors, long COVID is difficult to recognize due to nonspecific symptoms, leading to struggles getting adequate follow-up attention.

Nearly 18 months after getting COVID-19 and spending weeks in the hospital, Terry Bell struggles with hanging up his shirts and pants after doing the laundry.

Lifting his clothes, raising his arms, arranging items in his closet leave Bell short of breath and often trigger severe fatigue. He walks with a cane, only short distances. He’s 50 pounds lighter than when the virus struck.