Discover what the latest science from the RECOVER Initiative means for our ability to understand, treat, and prevent Long COVID.
This page contains descriptions of findings from RECOVER research studies. These descriptions use plain language and a format that is easy to understand.
If you want to learn more about the scientific discoveries described here, you can also browse and search the complete list of RECOVER Publications.
RECOVER researchers used data from over 15 million people’s electronic health records (EHR) to compare how many people have heart problems after having COVID or getting an mRNA COVID vaccine. They used EHR data from 40 healthcare systems in PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network.
Researchers found that the chance of having heart problems is higher after having COVID than after getting an mRNA COVID vaccine for men and women in all age groups. The overall chance of having heart problems after having COVID or getting an mRNA COVID vaccine was very low across all ages and genders. These results support the continued use of mRNA COVID vaccines for all people who meet the vaccine criteria.
RECOVER researchers reviewed electronic health records (EHRs) of about 12 million adults and children who had a COVID test to look for new symptoms and health conditions that happened 1 to 5 months after the COVID test. They used EHR data from 40 healthcare systems in PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network. Researchers compared new symptoms and health conditions in adults and children who did and didn’t have COVID (tested positive or negative) and whether they were hospitalized with COVID.
Researchers found that having COVID raised the chance of adults and children getting new symptoms and health conditions, especially trouble breathing, unusual heart rates, and type 2 diabetes. The chance of getting some new symptoms and conditions went up if they were hospitalized with COVID.
