Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34158305›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2021

Association between community-based self-reported COVID-19 symptoms and social deprivation explored using symptom tracker apps: a repeated cross-sectional study in Northern Ireland.

Jennifer M McKinley, David Cutting, Neil Anderson, Conor Graham, Brian Johnston, Ute Mueller, Peter M Atkinson, Hugo Van Woerden, Declan T Bradley, Frank Kee

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jennifer M McKinleySchool of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK j.mckinley@qub.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0003-2327-5560
David CuttingSchool of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1088-4749
Neil AndersonSchool of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Conor GrahamSchool of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-3099-8222
Brian JohnstonSchool of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-5864-160X
Ute MuellerSchool of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8670-2120
Peter M AtkinsonLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, Lancashire, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-5489-6880
Hugo Van WoerdenPublic Health Agency, Belfast, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-3382-1684
Declan T BradleyPublic Health Agency, Belfast, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-1468-1823
Frank KeePublic Health Agency, Belfast, UK.

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_PC_20058Medical Research Council MR/K023241/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe aim of the study was to investigate the spatial and temporal relationships between the prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms in the community-level and area-level social deprivation.

designSpatial mapping, generalised linear models, using time as a factor and spatial-lag models were used to explore the relationship between self-reported COVID-19 symptom prevalence as recorded through two smartphone symptom tracker apps and a range of socioeconomic factors using a repeated cross-sectional study design.

settingIn the community in Northern Ireland, UK. The analysis period included the earliest stages of non-pharmaceutical interventions and societal restrictions or 'lockdown' in 2020.

participantsUsers of two smartphone symptom tracker apps recording self-reported health information who recorded their location as Northern Ireland, UK. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Population standardised self-reported COVID-19 symptoms and correlation between population standardised self-reported COVID-19 symptoms and area-level characteristics from measures of multiple deprivation including employment levels and population housing density, derived as the mean number of residents per household for each census super output area.

resultsHigher self-reported prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms was associated with the most deprived areas (p<0.001) and with those areas with the lowest employment levels (p<0.001). Higher rates of self-reported COVID-19 symptoms within the age groups, 18-24 and 25-34 years were found within the most deprived areas during the earliest stages of non-pharmaceutical interventions and societal restrictions ('lockdown').

conclusionsThrough spatial regression of self-reporting COVID-19 smartphone data in the community, this research shows how a lens of social deprivation can deepen our understanding of COVID-19 transmission and prevention. Our findings indicate that social inequality, as measured by area-level deprivation, is associated with disparities in potential COVID-19 infection, with higher prevalence of self-reported COVID-19 symptoms in urban areas associated with area-level social deprivation, housing density and age.

Indexed as

COVID-19Social IsolationAdolescentAdultCommunicable Disease ControlCross-Sectional StudiesHumansMobile ApplicationsNorthern IrelandSelf ReportYoung AdultCOVID-19public healthstatistics & research methods

Identifiers

PMID34158305
PMCPMC8228811

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.