Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) as accelerated disability and need for health services in older adults with baseline impairment

Research Updates

Updated January 2025
We studied how COVID-19 infection affects older adults with pre-existing functional and cognitive impairments using data from the Health and Retirement Study, focusing on health services use and work-related outcomes. We found that pre-existing functional and cognitive impairments in older adults were linked with increased health services use and work limitations in 2022. However, the relationship between these impairments and these outcomes did not vary by COVID-19 history. Understanding these impacts helps in planning healthcare and social services, ensuring better support for older adults with pre-existing impairments, irrespective of COVID-19 history.

Proposed Research and Background

Given our aging population, if Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) (also known as long-COVID) prematurely accelerates disability, this would have significant impacts on multiple sectors, including the workforce, social services, and health care services.

The goal of our study is to understand what the long-term impacts of COVID-19 are in older adults (over 50 years) with pre-existing functional and cognitive impairments. To do this, we are using a database, the Health and Retirement Study, which has been collecting detailed functional and cognitive data prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and also collects data on health and support services, ability to work, and receipt of disability benefits. We will examine whether COVID-19 causes older adults with pre-existing functional or cognitive impairments to have an accelerated need for health services use (such as hospitalizations, nursing home care, or home health care use) compared to those not infected with COVID-19 or without baseline impairments. We will also examine whether COVID-19 causes older adults with pre-existing functional or cognitive impairments to leave the workforce earlier than expected, creating a higher than expected need for disability benefits.

Our research will help agencies such as the State of California State Disability Insurance program to anticipate emerging trends and inform policy to impart the resources and accommodations these individuals need to live and thrive in the community.