Characterization of long COVID among US Medicare beneficiaries using claims data

This retrospective study utilized healthcare claims data to investigate the incidence, patient demographics, and concurrent diagnoses associated with long COVID in the U.S. Medicare population. Nearly 194,000 (0.6%) beneficiaries had post-COVID condition diagnoses, with higher rates among nursing home residents. Of those medically attended for COVID-19, 3-5% were diagnosed with post-COVID conditions. We observed minimal demographic differences between those with and without long COVID. When comparing diagnoses concurrent with long COVID and COVID-19, certain codes (G72 and J84) for myopathies and interstitial pulmonary diseases were disproportionately present with long COVID. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This work was supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of the SafeRx Project, a joint initiative of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and FDA. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: This study did not require full Food and Drug Administration IRB committee review and approval because it was determined to be exempt from the requirements of 45 CFR Part 46; 46.104(d)(2) under the 2018 Common Rule. The use of Medicare administrative data was approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' privacy board under a data use agreement. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes The Medicare claims data were granted to the authors under a Data Use Agreement (DUA). Under the terms of this agreement, the authors are not allowed to share these data. Unless prohibited by law, an individual wanting access to this data could file their own DUA with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and gain approval to have access. In order to request the data, the readers may contact ResDAC (Research Data Assistance Center) at .