Long COVID and Food Insecurity in US Adults, 2022-2023.

IMPORTANCE

Long COVID (ie, post-COVID-19 condition) is a substantial public health concern, and its association with health-related social needs, such as food insecurity, remains poorly understood. Identifying modifiable risk factors like food insecurity and interventions like food assistance programs is critical for reducing the health burden of long COVID.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of food insecurity with long COVID and to assess the modifying factors of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation and employment status.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective, cross-sectional survey study used data from the 2022 to 2023 National Health Interview Survey. Respondents aged 18 years and older who reported prior COVID-19 infection and responded to questions on food insecurity and long COVID were included.

EXPOSURE

Food insecurity, categorized as food secure or food insecure.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was current long COVID, defined as symptoms lasting 3 or more months after initial COVID-19 infection persisting to time of interview. The secondary outcome was long COVID recovery, indicating history of long COVID without current symptoms. Food insecurity was measured using the validated 10-item National Center for Health Statistics food insecurity scale. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for the association of food insecurity with long COVID were calculated using simple and multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 21 631 participants (1255 female [weighted percentage, 53%]; 5058 aged 65 years or older [weighted percentage, 16%]), including 19 824 with food security and 1807 with food insecurity. In total, 288 respondents with food insecurity (weighted percentage, 15%) reported current long COVID compared with 1547 (weighted percentage, 7%) without food insecurity. Food insecurity was positively associated with current long COVID (adjusted OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.39-2.15) and negatively associated with recovery among adults with prior long COVID (adjusted OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54-0.92). SNAP participation (P for interaction = .04) and unemployment (P for interaction = .04) significantly modified these associations.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this survey study of US adults with prior COVID-19 infection, food insecurity was associated with greater odds of long COVID and lower odds of recovery, with SNAP participation and unemployment mitigating these associations. These findings suggest that expanding SNAP eligibility, simplifying enrollment processes, and increasing awareness of food assistance programs may reduce the burden of food insecurity and long COVID and further emphasize the importance of addressing health-related social needs in chronic disease prevention and management.