People with serious mental illness (SMI) diagnoses (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or recurrent major depressive disorder) have an increased risk of COVID-19 infection and related mortality. This risk can be attributed to limited access to medical care, challenges in treatment adherence, and the presence of comorbidities. However, it remains uncertain whether the same risks extend to post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), more commonly referred to long COVID.
In a JAMA Network Open publication, researchers examined electronic health records of 1.6 million patients and found that among patients with prior SMI, 27.7% developed PASC. Factors such as chronic stress and immune dysregulation associated with SMI can make these individuals more susceptible to persistent COVID-19 symptoms. The study also highlighted that older adults, as well as Hispanic and Black patients, were also more likely to develop PASC due to vulnerabilities rooted in aging, health disparities, and systemic barriers. These findings underscore a need for more targeted intervention for treating and preventing PASC among for people with SMI.