Measuring and Describing Disease (3)

Question 1

Describe the trend of the 2 week wait referrals for resp. lung cancers, and what might be going on?

Answer 1

4 week average wait pre-covid
Big drop in wait during lockdown
During covid, post lockdown = slow increase back to 3-4 week average wait

Increase in resp. admissions between jan-mar (maybe covid symptoms)

Central London boroughs = lower referral rates - age

Huge drop in referrals post-march (probs due to covid) = worrying because true issues / referrals aren’t being made (e.g. to investigate lung cancers etc.) Also may be due to fewer people visiting their GP

Question 2

Which boroughs are showing the highest and lowest incidents?

Answer 2

Harrow = high

Hammersmith and Fulham = high

Question 3

Why may there be variations between boroughs?

Answer 3

Age groups
Access to healthcare
Ethnicity

Question 4

Why are there lower incidence rates of covid in seaside towns (than cities)?

Answer 4

Compare incidence rate to standard population
Population density
Socialising / Culture
Ethnicity
Less air pollution in the coastal areas
Health / lifestyle - more exercise, better diets so the population has a lower risks for diabetes, hypertension etc.
Lack of eat out to help out
Older population = more compliant with social distancing rules

= less likely to be affected severely by covid

Data also may be due to chance