How COVID-19 affects managing long-term health conditions
Official title: Long-Term Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Self-Management of Chronic Conditions: The C3 Study
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11306581 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are following middle-aged and older adults with one or more chronic conditions to learn how the COVID-19 pandemic changed their ability to manage health and get care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $606,057 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG075043-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11306581 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (middle-aged and older) who have one or more chronic conditions, can complete interviews, and are willing to share their medical records are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without chronic conditions, those unwilling to provide medical-record access or participate in interviews, and patients whose issues are unrelated to managing long-term conditions during a public-health emergency may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
I would be followed as part of a group of middle-aged and older adults who all have at least one chronic health condition. The team compares what we reported before COVID-19 with interviews done during and after the pandemic and links our medical records to track changes in self-care, access to services, and health outcomes. The original C3 cohort started in Chicago and was expanded to include participants from New York City, and it includes people with diverse backgrounds and health histories. This follow-up will document long-term and different impacts across groups over several years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to better ways to support people with chronic conditions during pandemics or other disruptions so they maintain their health and access to care.
How similar studies have gone: Other cohort and survey studies early in the pandemic have identified short-term impacts on care access and self-management, so this longitudinal extension builds on established methods though long-term effects are still being clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wolf, Michael S — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Wolf, Michael S
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.