Thousands and thousands of individuals in England could also be dwelling with Lengthy Covid with out even realizing it.
A big-scale evaluation discovered that almost 10% suspect they may have the situation however stay unsure, usually resulting from lack of prognosis, stigma, or self-doubt.
Many Are Uncertain If They Have Lengthy Covid
Almost one in ten individuals (9.1%) in England suspect they might have Lengthy Covid however are uncertain, in response to a brand new evaluation of NHS England survey knowledge carried out by the College of Southampton.
Researchers additionally discovered that 4.8% of respondents reported having Lengthy Covid, with larger charges amongst people from deprived backgrounds, sure ethnic teams, dad and mom or caregivers, and people with current long-term well being circumstances.
The research, revealed at present (March 18) within the journal Well being Expectations, highlights ongoing disparities in how Lengthy Covid impacts completely different populations.
The Unfair Burden of Lengthy Covid
Professor Nisreen A. Alwan, a number one Lengthy Covid researcher and co-author of the research, emphasised the disproportionate affect of the situation.
“This evaluation provides additional proof of the unfairness of Lengthy Covid, with people who find themselves already deprived in society extra more likely to be affected.
“It additionally exhibits us that many individuals aren’t certain if they’ve it, and might have prognosis, remedy, and help.
“Lengthy Covid continues to be a really vital subject impacting people, households, the economic system and wider society. We have to do extra to forestall it, diagnose it, and correctly help people who find themselves affected by it.”
A Widespread But Unsure Situation
Lengthy Covid is a persistent situation induced by COVID-19 an infection that may have a major affect on individuals’s day by day lives. Signs embody fatigue, feeling wanting breath, ‘mind fog’, and coronary heart palpitations, amongst many others.
College of Southampton researchers analysed over 750,000 responses to the GP Affected person Survey (England) 2023 to discover the prevalence of Lengthy Covid, and the elements related to each having the situation and being unsure of getting it.
Why Some Folks Keep Undiagnosed
They discovered that individuals aged below 25 years, males, individuals from explicit ethnic minorities, and folks with out long-term circumstances have been extra more likely to be uncertain if that they had Lengthy Covid.
Males are usually much less more likely to search medical recommendation than girls, which may partly clarify their larger stage of uncertainty. The group additionally says stigma and self-doubt may discourage individuals from looking for a prognosis.
Elevating Consciousness and Bridging Gaps
Mirembe Woodrow, who’s finding out for a PhD at Southampton and who carried out the evaluation, stated: “We have been actually stunned to seek out so many individuals weren’t certain whether or not they had Lengthy Covid or not, and the research exhibits there may be nonetheless work to do to extend consciousness of the situation and take away limitations to accessing prognosis, remedy, and help.
“We don’t need Lengthy Covid to be one other issue that contributes to the widening well being hole within the UK.”
Lengthy Covid Uncertainty Persists
The latest knowledge from the 2024 GP Affected person Survey signifies Lengthy Covid prevalence and uncertainty usually are not declining (5.0% and 9.0%). Professor Alwan’s group intends to hold out additional work utilizing the survey to know what may very well be driving inequality in prevalence, affect, and help for Lengthy Covid.
Reference: “Exploring Lengthy Covid prevalence and affected person uncertainty by sociodemographic traits utilizing GP Affected person Survey knowledge” 17 March 2025, Well being Expectations.
DOI: 10.1111/hex.70202