Hundreds of thousands of individuals in England could also be residing with Lengthy Covid with out even realizing it.
A big-scale evaluation discovered that just about 10% suspect they could have the situation however stay unsure, typically 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 could have Lengthy Covid however are uncertain, in keeping with a brand new evaluation of NHS England survey knowledge performed 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, mother and father or caregivers, and people with present long-term well being circumstances.
The examine, printed in the present day (March 18) within the journal Well being Expectations, highlights ongoing disparities in how Lengthy Covid impacts totally different populations.
The Unfair Burden of Lengthy Covid
Professor Nisreen A. Alwan, a number one Lengthy Covid researcher and co-author of the examine, emphasised the disproportionate impression 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 reveals us that many individuals aren’t positive if they’ve it, and might have prognosis, therapy, and assist.
“Lengthy Covid continues to be a really important subject impacting people, households, the financial system and wider society. We have to do extra to stop it, diagnose it, and correctly assist people who find themselves affected by it.”
A Widespread But Unsure Situation
Lengthy Covid is a power situation induced by COVID-19 an infection that may have a big impression 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 components related to each having the situation and being unsure of getting it.
Why Some Individuals Keep Undiagnosed
They discovered that individuals aged underneath 25 years, males, individuals from specific ethnic minorities, and folks with out long-term circumstances had been extra more likely to be uncertain if they’d Lengthy Covid.
Males are usually much less more likely to search medical recommendation than ladies, which may partly clarify their larger degree of uncertainty. The workforce 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 had been actually shocked to search out so many individuals weren’t positive whether or not they had Lengthy Covid or not, and the examine reveals there may be nonetheless work to do to extend consciousness of the situation and take away limitations to accessing prognosis, therapy, and assist.
“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 newest 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 workforce intends to hold out additional work utilizing the survey to know what might be driving inequality in prevalence, impression, and assist 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