The persistence of symptoms for more than three months following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is referred to as “Long COVID”. To gain a deeper understanding of the etiology and long-term progression of symptoms, this study aims to analyze the prevalence of Long COVID and its associated factors in a cohort of Brazilian adults and elders, twelve months after hospital discharge. An observational, prospective, and follow-up study was performed with a cohort of adults and older adults diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020 in the State of Paraná, Brazil. Twelve months after hospital discharge, patients answered a phone questionnaire about the persistence of symptoms after three levels of exposure to COVID-19’s acute phase (ambulatory, medical ward, and intensive care unit). According to the characteristics of participants, the prevalence of Long COVID-19 was calculated, and logistic regression analyses were conducted. We analyzed data from 1822 participants (980 adults [≥18–<60 years] and 842 older people [≥60 years]) across three exposure levels. The overall Long COVID prevalence was 64.2%. Long COVID was observed in 646 adults (55%; of which 326 were women) and 523 older people (45%; of which 284 were women). Females had a higher prevalence of long-term symptoms (52%) compared with men. The most common post-COVID-19 conditions in the 12-month follow-up were neurological (49.8%), followed by musculoskeletal (35.1%) and persistent respiratory symptoms (26.5%). Male individuals were less likely to develop Long COVID (aOR = 0.50). Other determinants were also considered risky, such as the presence of comorbidities (aOR = 1.41). Being an adult and having been hospitalized was associated with the development of Long COVID. The risk of developing Long COVID was twice as high for ward patients (aOR = 2.53) and three times as high for ICU patients (aOR = 3.56) when compared to non-hospitalized patients. Presenting clinical manifestations of digestive (aOR = 1.56), endocrine (aOR = 2.14), cutaneous (aOR = 2.51), musculoskeletal (aOR = 2.76) and psychological systems (aOR = 1.66) made adults more likely to develop Long COVID. Long COVID was present in a large proportion of people affected by the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Presence of Long COVID symptoms displayed a dose–response relationship with the level of disease exposure, with a greater prevalence of symptoms associated with the severe form in the acute period.

Objective: To analyze the factors associated with hospitalization in the ward and intensive care unit (ICU), and with death from COVID-19 in pregnant women with confirmed cases. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study, carried out with data from pregnant women with a confirmed case of COVID-19 from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System and the Paraná’s state COVID-19 notification system. The association between the independent and dependent variables (hospitalization in the ward and ICU, and death) was investigated using the Poisson regression model with robust variance. Results: 4,719 pregnant women comprised the study population. 9.6 and 5.1% were hospitalized in wards and ICU, respectively. 1.9% died. There was an association between advanced maternal age and hospitalization in wards (PR=1.36; 95%CI 1.10–1.62) and ICU (PR=2.25; 95%CI 1.78–2.71), and death (PR=3.22; 95%CI 2.30–4.15). An association was found between the third trimester and hospitalization in wards (PR=5.06; 95%CI 2.82–7.30) and ICU (PR=6.03; 95%CI 3.67–8.39) and death (PR=13.56; 95%CI 2.90–24.23). The second trimester was associated with ICU admission (PR=2.67; 95%CI 1.36–3.99). Pregnant women with cardiovascular disease had a higher frequency of hospitalization in wards (PR=2.24; 95%CI 1.43–3.05) and ICU (PR=2.66; 95%CI 1.46–3.87). Obesity was associated with ICU admission (PR=3.79; 95%CI 2.71–4.86) and death (PR=5.62; 95%CI 2.41–8.83). Conclusions: Advanced maternal age, the end of the gestational period and comorbidities were associated with severe COVID-19.

Objetivo: analisar o conhecimento de estudantes de enfermagem de diferentes séries da graduação em relação ao HIV/aids e sífilis. Método: pesquisa descritivo-exploratória, desenvolvida com 65 acadêmicos de enfermagem de uma universidade do Sul do Brasil. Os dados foram coletados por instrumento adaptado da Organização Mundial da Saúde. Aplicou-se teste de Kruskal-Wallis e da diferença mínima significativa de Fisher para a comparação. Resultados: houve diferença significativa do conhecimento entre as séries em aspectos específicos das infecções, como: janela imunológica do HIV, fisiopatologia da aids, modo de transmissão da sífilis, método indetectável = intransmissível do HIV e caracterização das fases da sífilis. Conclusão: a aquisição de saberes sobre HIV/aids e sífilis entre estudantes de enfermagem tende a evoluir ao longo da graduação, visto que as últimas séries apresentaram melhores escores. Todavia, o conhecimento prévio dos estudantes das séries iniciais ficou evidente e, por vezes, não se inferiorizou em relação às demais. Descritores: Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis. Sífilis. HIV. Estudantes de Enfermagem. Conhecimento.

Background/Objectives: Evidence suggests that older adults who survived COVID-19 were exposed to greater functional dependence in their daily living activities. This study aims to examine the prevalence of functional dependence and associated factors among Brazilian older people with functional dependence 12 months after COVID-19 infection. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving people aged 60 years or older in the state of Paraná, Brazil. One year after notification or hospital discharge due to COVID-19, between June 2021 and March 2022, participants responded to a questionnaire via telephone call about sociodemographic data and data on functionality using the Measure of Functional Independence (FIM). The outcome variable “assessment of functional capacity” was divided into functional dependence (FIM Total < 104) and functional independence (FIM Total ≥ 104). Results: A total of 768 older adults participated, with an average age of 68.03 ± 6.8 years (range between 60 and 100). A majority of them were female (50.3%), white (46%), with low education (37.4%), had a partner (56.3%), did not live alone (72.4%), and had their own home (52.2%). The prevalence of functional dependence was 7.2%. On average, participants scored 5.4 points lower on FIM one year after COVID-19 infection compared with those in the acute phase of COVID-19 (125.5 vs. 120.1; p < 0.001). Functional dependence was higher (p < 0.05) among women when compared to men (aOR = 2.28); in people who changed their work situation due to COVID-19 when compared to those with no change (aOR = 5.27); in people with fair/poor/bad self-reported health compared to those with excellent/good health (aOR = 2.97); in people with cardiovascular symptoms compared to those without cardiovascular symptoms (aOR = 3.37); and among the most severe cases of the disease (treatment in ICU) compared to mild cases (outpatient treatment) (aOR = 10.5). Conclusions: Most participants presented functional independence 12 months after COVID-19 infection. Cases of functional dependence were influenced by multidimensional factors, including physical health, economic, and psychosocial aspects.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar os fatores associados à hospitalização em enfermaria e unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI), e ao óbito pela COVID-19 em gestantes com caso confirmado. Métodos: Pesquisa observacional, transversal, realizada com dados de gestantes com caso confirmado para COVID-19 provenientes do Sistema de Informação de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe e do Sistema Estadual Notifica COVID-19, do Paraná. Investigou-se a associação entre variáveis independentes e dependentes (hospitalização em enfermaria e UTI, e óbito) pelo modelo de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta. Resultados: 4.719 gestantes compuseram a população do estudo; 9,6 e 5,1% foram hospitalizadas em enfermaria e UTI, respectivamente; 1,9% evoluíram para óbito. Houve associação entre a idade materna avançada e internação em enfermaria (RP=1,36; IC95% 1,10–1,62) e UTI (RP=2,25; IC95% 1,78–2,71), e óbito (RP=3,22; IC95% 2,30–4,15). Verificou-se associação entre o terceiro trimestre gestacional e hospitalização em enfermaria (RP=5,06; IC95% 2,82–7,30) e UTI (RP=6,03; IC95% 3,67–8,39) e óbito (RP=13,56; IC95% 2,90–24,23). O segundo trimestre associou-se à internação em UTI (RP=2,67; IC95% 1,36–3,99). Gestantes com cardiopatia apresentaram maior frequência de hospitalização em enfermaria (RP=2,24; IC95% 1,43–3,05) e UTI (RP=2,66; IC95% 1,46–3,87). A obesidade foi associada à admissão em UTI (RP=3,79; IC95% 2,71–4,86) e ao óbito (RP=5,62; IC95% 2,41–8,83). Conclusão: A idade materna avançada, o final do período gestacional e comorbidades foram fatores associados a quadros graves de COVID-19.