New research led by Dr. Stephanie Scott has found that people in Northern England are among the worst affected by long COVID, highlighting a significant North-South divide in the impact of the condition.
The study, published by Health Equity North, shows that one-fifth of patients in the North East and Yorkshire suffer from long COVID, with rates in the most deprived areas being 5.2% higher than in less deprived regions.
In contrast, the South West and South East of England have the lowest long COVID rates, at 3.4% and 3.6% respectively, both below the national average of 4.4%.
These findings underscore the stark regional inequalities in how long COVID affects people across the country.
As part of the research, interviews were conducted with individuals who have experienced long COVID, revealing its severe impact on their personal and professional lives.
Many participants reported being demoted, fired, or forced to switch to part-time work due to their condition.
Alarmingly, only 3 out of 10 northern employers offered specific rehabilitation support for employees living with long COVID.
Dr. Stephanie Scott, a senior lecturer in public health at Newcastle University and the lead author of the report, emphasized that long COVID is a complex condition that affects more than just physical and mental health.
“Long COVID impacts people’s sense of self and professional identity, leading to social isolation,” she said. Dr. Scott called for more research into long COVID and urged policymakers to take the issue seriously, so better support and treatment can be developed.
Long COVID includes symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, breathlessness, low mood, and depression, with 1.9 million people in England reporting long COVID symptoms as of March 2023. Of those, 79% said the condition negatively impacted their daily lives.
The report has sparked calls for further research and government consultations with patients to better understand and manage long COVID.
Dr. Scott hopes that the evidence presented in the report will lead to increased funding for research and improved support from employers for those affected by this often-debilitating condition.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to severe COVID-19, death, and how diets could help manage post-COVID syndrome.
For more health information, please see recent studies about COVID infection and vaccination linked to heart disease, and results showing extracts from two wild plants can inhibit COVID-19 virus.
