NIHR Open Research (Sep 2023)

Deprivation, essential and non-essential activities and SARS-CoV-2 infection following the lifting of national public health restrictions in England and Wales [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]

  • Parth Patel,
  • Susan Hoskins,
  • Vincent Nguyen,
  • Sarah Beale,
  • Alexei Yavlinsky,
  • Thomas Byrne,
  • Jana Kovar,
  • Cyril Geismar,
  • Anne M. Johnson,
  • Andrew Hayward,
  • Robert W. Aldridge,
  • Wing Lam Erica Fong,
  • Yamina Boukari

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3

Abstract

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Background: Individuals living in deprived areas in England and Wales undertook essential activities more frequently and experienced higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection than less deprived communities during periods of restrictions aimed at controlling the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant. We aimed to understand whether these deprivation-related differences changed once restrictions were lifted. Methods: Among 11,231 adult Virus Watch Community Cohort Study participants multivariable logistic regressions were used to estimate the relationships between deprivation and self-reported activities and deprivation and infection (self-reported lateral flow or PCR tests and linkage to National Testing data and Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS)) between August – December 2021, following the lifting of national public health restrictions. Results: Those living in areas of greatest deprivation were more likely to undertake essential activities (leaving home for work (aOR 1.56 (1.33 – 1.83)), using public transport (aOR 1.33 (1.13 – 1.57)) but less likely to undertake non-essential activities (indoor hospitality (aOR 0.82 (0.70 – 0.96)), outdoor hospitality (aOR 0.56 (0.48 – 0.66)), indoor leisure (aOR 0.63 (0.54 – 0.74)), outdoor leisure (aOR 0.64 (0.46 – 0.88)), or visit a hairdresser (aOR 0.72 (0.61 – 0.85))). No statistical association was observed between deprivation and infection (P=0.5745), with those living in areas of greatest deprivation no more likely to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 (aOR 1.25 (0.87 – 1.79). Conclusion: The lack of association between deprivation and infection is likely due to the increased engagement in non-essential activities among the least deprived balancing the increased work-related exposure among the most deprived. The differences in activities highlight stark disparities in an individuals’ ability to choose how to limit infection exposure.

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