Researchers from California Polytechnic State University Report on Findings in COVID-19 (Exploring the Role of Race/Ethnicity, Metropolitan Status, and Health Insurance in Long COVID Among U.S. Adults): Coronavirus – COVID-19

2026 FEB 20 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at NewsRx COVID-19 Daily -- Data detailed on Coronavirus - COVID-19 have been presented. According to news reporting originating from San Luis Obispo, California, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Limited evidence suggests possible disparities in COVID-19 across race/ethnicity, metropolitan status, and healthcare access. This study investigated racial/ethnic, metropolitan, and healthcare access disparities in Long COVID among U.S. adults.”

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from California Polytechnic State University, “2022-2023 cross-sectional Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data were analyzed. U.S. adults who had COVID-19 were included, resulting in a final weighted sample size of n = 80,093,998. Logistic regressions examined associations between race/ethnicity, metropolitan status, health insurance and ever or currently experiencing Long COVID and reductions in daily function. Interactions were examined for metropolitan status and health insurance. Versus non-Hispanic White (NHW) respondents, a higher odds of Long COVID were observed for Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaskan Native (ever adj. OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.53; currently adj. OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.39, 2.12) and Other Race/Multiracial (ever adj. OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.62; currently adj. OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.58) respondents. Black (ever adj. OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.76, 0.93), Asian (ever adj. OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.70), and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (currently adj. OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.95) respondents had a lower odds. Non-metropolitan residents had a higher odds (ever adj. OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.25; currently adj. OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.24) versus metropolitan residents. Uninsured respondents had a higher odds versus insured respondents (currently adj. OR = 1.24, 95%: 1.08, 1.44). Interactions were statistically significant for metropolitan status (ever p-value = 0.026) and health insurance (ever p-value = 0.006; currently p-value = 0.008). Long COVID is experienced unequally across race/ethnicity and metropolitan/non-metropolitan residence.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Further research is needed to understand this heterogeneity and the effects of Long COVID.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Exploring the Role of Race/Ethnicity, Metropolitan Status, and Health Insurance in Long COVID Among U.S. Adults. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 2026. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities can be contacted at: Springer Int Publ Ag, Gewerbestrasse 11, Cham, Ch-6330, Switzerland.

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Rebeka Moges, Dept. of Kinesiology and Public Health, California Polytechnic State University, Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405, United States. Additional authors for this research include Camilo Vargas, Grace Caltabellotta, Lulu David, Nicola Manalili, Marilyn Tseng, Emily C. Marlow and Adrienne B. Lent.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities is: Springer Int Publ Ag, Gewerbestrasse 11, Cham, Ch-6330, Switzerland.

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