Impact and priorities among San Antonio COVID-19 survivors

Despite a recent slight decline in incidence, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage in San Antonio. COVID-19 carries substantial morbidity and mortality, and survivors of COVID-19 infection also stand to suffer potentially long-lasting adverse health, social, financial, and educational effects. This project aims to:

1. Assess the unique impacts and stressors that survivors of COVID-19 encounter; and
2. Identify community priorities for addressing these concerns.

Researchers at UTHSCSA will partner with the South Central Area Health Education Center to survey Bexar County residents from UTHSCSA’s Division of Infectious Diseases’ registry of over 4,000 people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The survey will include:

1. Demographic information
2. Self-report measures assessing physical functioning, mental health, substance use, education, employment, finances, and housing
3. Open-ended questions regarding concerns and resource needs.

As the pandemic evolves, the negative impact of social determinants of health along with challenges in access to healthcare and the compounded stress stand to have a lasting impact on our community. This project hopes to facilitate partnerships between researchers and community members that result in meaningful and effective interventions.

Publications: 

Vroom EB, Howell AB, Wang CP, Tsevat J. Posttraumatic growth in a predominatly Hispanic cohort with a history of COVID-19 infection. J Gen Intern Med. 2025. Epub ahead of print. 

Case KR, Wang CP, Hosek MG, Lill SF, Howell AB, Taylor BS, et al. Health-related quality of life and social determinants of health following COVID-19 infection in a predominantly Latino population. J Patient Rep Outcomes. 2022;6(1):72.