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Using General Practice Patient Survey data to explore prevalence and patient uncertainty about Long Covid, 2024, Woodrow et al

Discussion in 'Long Covid research' started by Nightsong, Oct 28, 2024.

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  1. Nightsong

    Nightsong Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Background: The high global burden of Long Covid (LC) has significant implications for population wellbeing, healthcare, social care and national economies.

    Aim: To explore associations between patient sociodemographic and health characteristics with two outcomes: reporting having LC and expressing uncertainty about having LC, as described by general practice (GP) survey respondents.

    Design and setting: Analysis of GP Patient Survey (England), a random sample of 759,149 patients aged 16yrs+ registered with a GP in England (2023).

    Method: Multivariable logistic regression modelling comparing those with and without LC, and those who were unsure in relation to patient characteristics.

    Results: 4.8% of respondents reported having LC, and 9.1% were unsure. Significant adjusted associations indicating higher risk of LC included age (highest odds 35-54yrs), sex (females), ethnicity (White Gypsy/Irish Traveller, mixed/multiple ethnic groups), sexual orientation (gay/lesbian or bisexual), living in a deprived area, being a carer or a parent and having a long-term condition (LTC). Those aged 25yrs and under, males, non-binary, heterosexual, not parents or carers, from other white, Indian, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Black or Arab backgrounds, former and current smokers, and with no defined LTC were more likely to be unsure about having LC compared to answering "yes".

    Conclusion: There is an unequal distribution of LC in England, with the condition being more prevalent in minoritised and disadvantaged groups. There are also high levels of uncertainty about having LC. Improved awareness is needed amongst the general population and healthcare professionals to ensure those most vulnerable in society are identified and provided with care and support.

    Link | PDF (MedRxiv preprint, open access)
     
    Nightsong, Oct 28, 2024
    #1
    RedFox, NelliePledge, Peter Trewhitt and 2 others like this.
  2. Hutan

    Hutan Moderator Staff Member

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    Location:
    Aotearoa New Zealand
    759,149 respondents, so approximately a third replied to the survey. But, it was a general survey, so the bias will be less related to the presence or absence of Long Covid. There is probably still a bias in who bothered to reply. There were more females than males who replied (females accounted for 58% of the sample).

    Columns are by self reported Long Covid status: Yes : No : Not sure : Prefer not to say

    Screen Shot 2024-10-28 at 7.05.56 pm.png

    Despite them saying that being female is a risk factor, those numbers on the face of it aren't looking very different for males and females. 5.1% of females self-reported as having long Covid; 4.4% of males self-reported as having long Covid.

    I guess we are dealing with Long Covid here, not ME/CFS, so it could be including people who have ongoing damage from severe infections, and possibly men have a higher representation in that group.

    The highest rates of reporting Long Covid, both 'yes' and 'not sure' are in the 35 to 64 year age ranges.

    The percentage of self-reported Long Covid in the 'Gypsy or Irish traveller' is extraordinary, nearly three times that in other ethnic groups. It is a very small sample though, with just 42 people in the group saying 'yes'.
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2024
    Hutan, Oct 28, 2024
    #2
    RedFox, alktipping and Peter Trewhitt like this.
  3. Hutan

    Hutan Moderator Staff Member

    Messages:
    31,731
    Location:
    Aotearoa New Zealand
    That seems an unhelpful thing to say.
    Of the people who responded to their survey, 58% were female. So, if there was no sex bias in who gets Long Covid, we would expect 58% of the people with Long Covid to be female. Instead it was 60%. Throw in a possible sex bias skewed to females being more willing report that they have Long Covid, and 60% is hardly suggestive of a significant sex bias. I really thought it would be more.
     
    Hutan, Oct 28, 2024
    #3
    RedFox, alktipping, Nightsong and 3 others like this.

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