Mitigation of Long COVID in Undergraduate Populations

Einweck, Alexandri, Fuentes, Jose, Jacob, Henry, Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, Mentor, Nikravan, Shabnam, Poster Presentation, Public Health, School and College, Student

Alexandri Einweck, Jose Fuentes and Henry Jacob, “Mitigation of Long COVID in Undergraduate Populations”
Mentor: Shabnam Nikravan, Public Health
Poster #218

The unmitigated spread of SARS-CoV-2 presents risks even once the acute stage of COVID-19 is over. Undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 25 are at a heightened risk of infection, due to the crowded environment on campus and academic pressures of presenteeism. While therapies have been developed to help get patients through the acute stage, Long COVID (LC) remains an epidemic. LC is a multisystemic, post-viral illness that causes a variety of poorly understood symptoms; from exertional fatigue to cognitive decline to strokes. Any acute infection can become LC, and repeated infections put individuals at higher risk of developing the condition. There is no cure for LC, and the exact cause is unknown. Prevention of spread is incredibly important; for some who develop LC, they will deal with new, potentially lifelong disabilities as they graduate and enter their careers. Utilizing the Health Belief Model alongside a modified intervention mapping program, we will address Long COVID in undergraduate populations ages 18-25. This program focuses on mitigation and education through surveys, teach-ins, and meta-analyses. Results will be synthesized based on survey and meta-analytic findings. Findings will be utilized to develop primary and secondary preventative interventions. In addition, a logic model will be developed by looking at the current literature surrounding recovery and treatment, particularly how individuals ages 18-25 fare. Our goal is to determine how vulnerable undergraduates in this age group are, what symptoms they commonly present with, and how to better disburse accurate information on COVID-19 to them. Through this model, we can increase students’ awareness of Long COVID and the resources available at UWM, while reducing incident cases. Future implementation at other UW schools will provide data on surrounding communities and refine resources needed to mitigate LC while indirectly improving future career prospects among students.