Publication date: Jul 14, 2025
This study investigated the association between Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and long-term COVID-19 symptoms. We used data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between long-term COVID symptoms and ACEs, adjusting for demographic characteristics (race/ethnicity, age, and sex). Survey weights were applied. Of the 14,560 participants, 46. 73% experienced 1-3 ACEs, and 26. 81% experienced 4 + ACEs-23. 38% experienced long-term COVID-19 symptoms. Blacks (OR = 0. 76, P =. 002) and Asians (OR = 0. 56, P =. 009) were less likely than Whites to experience long-term COVID-19, but American Indians (OR = 1. 72) were more likely. Adults aged 35-69 had a higher likelihood of long-term symptoms than younger adults (OR = 1. 24), whereas those aged 70 or older did not differ from younger adults. Females were also more likely to experience them (OR = 1. 61). Exposure to ACEs was positively associated with long-term COVID-19 symptoms. The more adverse events individuals were exposed to, the more risk of long-term COVID-19. Specifically, experience of household substance abuse (OR = 1. 14, 95%, P =. 008), physical abuse (OR = 1. 18, 95%, P =. 001), emotional abuse (OR = 1. 13, 95%, P =. 014), sexual abuse (OR = 1. 43, 95%, P
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| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Asians | Adverse childhood experiences |
| Blacks | Childhood maltreatment |
| Childhood | Health effects |
| Sex | Trauma |
| Violence prevention |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | substance abuse |
| disease | MESH | emotional abuse |
| disease | MESH | sexual abuse |
| disease | MESH | Long Covid |
| pathway | REACTOME | Reproduction |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Coenzyme M |
| disease | MESH | Adverse childhood experiences |
| disease | MESH | Violence |