This research, led by Dr Stephanie Scott, has uncovered that people in the North of England are among the worst affected by long Covid.
A Newcastle University study found a fifth of patients in areas of Northern England have suffered from long Covid. These findings follow patterns highlighting the devastating impact of Covid-19 across northern regions in comparison to southern areas.
Contents:
- What is long Covid?
- Which regions are worst affected by long Covid?
- Long Covid's impact on personal and professional lives
- Looking ahead – better understanding and care
What is long Covid?
Most people with Covid-19 feel well within a few days or weeks of their first symptoms and make a full recovery within 12 weeks.
But for some people, symptoms can last longer.
Long Covid is a new condition which is still being researched. The most common symptoms encompass physical, cognitive, and mental impairments, including problems with memory and concentration, low mood, and depression. Physical symptoms may include extreme tiredness, feeling short of breath, joint pain, and muscle aches. But there are many more symptoms that can follow Covid, too.
How long it takes to recover from long Covid is different for everyone.
In England, 1.9 million people experienced self-reported long Covid symptoms as of March 2023, with 79% saying it had a negative impact on their day-to-day activities. One participant in the research even felt 'surprised' to wake up the next morning, as it felt like they were experiencing stroke-like symptoms.
Which regions are worst affected by long Covid?
Research has shown that regional inequalities are evident in the North East and Yorkshire, where rates in the most deprived areas were 5.2% higher than in the less deprived areas.
The regions with the lowest rates of long Covid were the South West (3.4%) and the South East (3.6%), which falls below the average for England at 4.4%.
The report, published by Health Equity North, shows the alarming inequalities in long Covid rates and a clear North-South divide.
Long Covid’s impact on personal and professional lives
As part of the research, academics conducted interviews with participants who have experienced or continue to experience long Covid, and the findings showed the significant impact it has on the personal and professional lives of those with the condition.
‘Our research has offered a glimpse into the reality of what it is like to live with this often-debilitating condition and the knock-on effects it has on people’s personal and professional lives.’
Dr Stephanie Scott, Senior Lecturer in Public Health
Many of the participants involved in the research had been demoted, fired, forced to resign, or switched to part-time work because of long Covid. Upon further investigation, only three out of 10 northern employers contacted offered a specific rehabilitation package to employees living with long Covid.
Dr Stephanie Scott, lead author of the report and Senior Lecturer in Public Health at Newcastle University, said: ‘Long Covid is a complex condition that goes beyond physical and mental symptoms, affecting other parts of people’s lives including their sense of self and professional identity. This can then lead to feelings of social isolation.’
Looking ahead – better understanding and care
Dr Scott says, ‘Currently, there is little evidence-based treatment for long Covid, and the health system focusses on managing symptoms. This needs to change. Our research has offered a glimpse into the reality of what it is like to live with this often-debilitating condition and the knock-on effects it has on people’s personal and professional lives.
‘I hope that the evidence presented in this report cuts through to policymakers and gets the attention it deserves so more research into long Covid is funded, and so measures can be put into place that enables employers to better support their workforce with Long Covid.’
The findings have prompted calls for more research into long Covid and for the government to undertake a series of consultations with patients so they can better understand the condition and to implement care plans to facilitate rehabilitation and management of the condition.
Further information:
- view the full report, ‘Navigating the Long Haul: Understanding Long Covid in Northern England’
- read the press release: ‘Geographic differences in long COVID rates across England’
- unlock the secrets of long Covid and how it could be treated in our recent research
- watch the ‘Unlocking the secrets of long Covid’ video
- find out more about long Covid symptoms and treatment on the NHS site
- read more about Dr Stephanie Scott, Senior Lecturer in Public Health at Newcastle University
