Almost one in 10 people in England think they could have long Covid, according to analysis of national data. Researchers at the University of Southampton examined information collected by NHS England which showed 4.8% of people reported having the condition, with higher rates in deprived areas and people with particular ethnic backgrounds, parents, carers and those with another long-term condition.
Long Covid is a chronic condition induced by Covid-19 infection, with symptoms including fatigue, feeling short of breath, “brain fog”, and heart palpitations. The findings, which show 9.1% believe they may have long Covid, are part of the study published in the journal Health Expectations.
Professor Nisreen Alwan said: “This analysis adds further evidence of the unfairness of long Covid, with people who are already disadvantaged in society more likely to be affected. It also shows us that many people aren’t sure if they have it, and may need diagnosis, treatment and support.
“Long Covid is still a very significant issue impacting individuals, families, the economy and wider society. We need to do more to prevent it, diagnose it, and properly support people who are affected by it.”
The researchers analysed more than 750,000 responses to the GP Patient Survey (England) 2023 and found people aged under 25, males, people from particular ethnic minorities, and people without long-term conditions were more likely to be unsure if they had long Covid.
They found men were generally less likely to seek medical advice than women, which they say could partly explain the higher level of uncertainty with stigma and self-doubt also discouraging people from seeking a diagnosis. Mirembe Woodrow, who is studying for a PhD at Southampton and who carried out the analysis, said: “We were really surprised to find so many people weren’t sure whether they had long Covid or not, and the study shows there is still work to do to increase awareness of the condition and remove barriers to accessing diagnosis, treatment and support.
“We don’t want long Covid to be another factor that contributes to the widening health gap in the UK.”
She added that the most recent data from the 2024 GP Patient Survey suggests similar levels of people with the condition, with 5% prevalence and 9% of respondents being unsure.