United States: The CDC has streamlined the Disability and Health Data System (DHDS) with new data and information from the 2022 Behavioral threat Factor Surveillance System( BRFSS). This update provides quick online access to state- position health data on grown-ups with disabilities.
The 2022 data reveals that over 1 in 4 grown-ups, totaling further than 70 million people in the United States, reported having a disability. For the first time, the BRFSS also collected data on Long COVID, defined as symptoms lasting three months or longer that weren’t present ahead contracting COVID- 19.
The data shows that Long COVID symptoms are more common among people with disabilities(10.8) percent compared to those without disabilities(6.6) percent.
Impact and Risk Factors
While this long COVID can occur in anyone like in anyone who gets a SARS-CoV-2 infection the virus that causes COVID-19 and that data shows that some of the people or particular groups of people are at the higher risk of developing long COVID.
Some of the people with disabilities may be more likely or vulnerable to get very sick from COVID-19 or any other respiratory viruses and just because of the underlying the medical conditions congregate living settings or systemic health and social inequities.
Commemorating the Americans with Disabilities Act
CDC continues to collaborate with the clinicians and public health partners and other federal agencies to better understand the impacts of long COVID, more generally and the given data better and identify and support needs of people with disabilities.
These findings underscore the fact that people with disabilities are a large part of every community and population. Many of us know, or are, someone with a disability, and disability inclusion is beneficial for all. As we commemorate the upcoming 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities on July 26, it’s important to remember disability is not a health outcome; it is part of the way people experience life, such as hearing, seeing, moving, processing information, and caring for oneself.
CDC’s Commitment to Disability Inclusion
CDC reaffirms that it’s a commitment of enhancing the disability of representation in the public health data to better plan and prepare for their needs during emergencies and to show this issue CDC is collaborating with the partners to enhance the inclusion of the disability in the emergency department surveillance and improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information reported by the local health agencies during the emergencies.
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