Panorama da COVID longa no Brasil: análise preliminar de um inquérito para pensar políticas de saúde

Karina Barros Calife Batista, Michelle Vieira Fernandez, Lorena Guadalupe Barberia, Erica Tatiane da Silva, Vaneide Daciane Pedi, Bárbara Maia Lima Madeira Pontes, Gui Araujo, Rafael da Silveira Moreira, Marcos Pedrosa, Mariana Pastorello Verotti, Claudio Maierovitch Pessanha Henriques, Anna Catharina Florêncio, Melania Maria Ramos de Amorim

Characterized by symptoms that remain or appear for the first time within three months of SARS-CoV-2 infection, long COVID can manifest itself in different ways, including in non-hospitalized or asymptomatic cases. Thus, this study offers an overview of long COVID in Brazil, especially of its diagnosis, symptoms, and challenges for new health management. Data from a study that investigated long COVID in people affected by COVID-19 were used. These original data stem from a survey with adult Brazilians (aged 18 years or older) who had COVID-19 that collected information from March 14 to April 14, 2022, by a questionnaire on social media. The questionnaire addressed sociodemographic characteristics, history of COVID-19 infections, vaccination against the disease, investigation of health status and quality of life before and after COVID-19, and search and access to treatment. Of the 1,728 respondents, 720 were considered eligible for analysis, of which 496 (69%) had long COVID. Individuals with long COVID reported clinical manifestations such as anxiety (80%), memory loss (78%), generalized pain (77%), lack of attention (75%), fatigue (73%), hair loss (71%), sleep changes (70%), mood swings (62%), malaise (60%), and joint pain (59%). Most sought health services during and after the acute phase of COVID-19 (94 and 80%, respectively), representing the need to structure the healthcare system for these patients.