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 spatial correlation between confirmed cases of covid-19 and the intensive care unit beds exclusive to the disease in municipalities of Paraná. METHODS This is an epidemiological study of ecological type which used data from the Epidemiological Report provided by the Department of Health of Paraná on the confirmed cases of covid-19 from March 12, 2020, to January 18, 2021. The number of intensive care beds exclusive to covid-19 in each municipality of Paraná was obtained by the Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde (CNES - National Registry of Health Establishments), provided online by the Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (Datasus - Informatics Department of the Brazilian Unified Health System). The Bivariate Moran’s Index (local and global) was used to analyze the intensive care bed variable and spatial correlation, with a 5% significance level. LISA Map was used to identify critical and transition areas. RESULTS In the analyzed period, we found 499,777 confirmed cases of covid-19 and 1,029 intensive care beds exclusive to the disease in Paraná. We identified a positive spatial autocorrelation between the confirmed cases of covid-19 (0.404–p ≤ 0.001) and intensive care beds exclusive to the disease (0.085–p ≤ 0.001) and disparities between the regions of Paraná. CONCLUSION Spatial analysis indicated that confirmed cases of covid-19 are related to the distribution of intensive care beds exclusive to the disease in Paraná, allowing us to find priority areas of care in the state regarding the dissemination and control of the disease.

Objetivo: identificar los factores asociados al abandono de la terapia antirretroviral entre adolescentes y jóvenes que vivían con VIH/sida durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Método: estudio de casos y controles realizado entre 2020 y 2021 en Maringá, Paraná. Los casos fueron: adolescentes y jóvenes (10 a 24 años) diagnosticados con VIH/sida y que abandonaron el tratamiento, mientras que el grupo de controles fue compuesto por personas con características sociodemográficas semejantes, diagnosticadas con VIH/sida, sin historia de abandono del tratamiento. El emparejamiento de casos y controles se hizo por conveniencia, con cuatro controles por cada caso. El instrumento de investigación presentó variables sociodemográficas y clínicas, entre otras y la asociación con el abandono del tratamiento se analizó por regresión logística. Resultados: se incluyeron 27 casos y 109 controles en el estudio (proporción 1/4). La variable asociada con mayor probabilidad de abandono fue la edad próxima a 22,8 años (ORaj:1,47; IC 95%:1,07-2,13; p=0,024). El uso esporádico del preservativo (ORaj:0,22; IC 95%:0,07-0,59; p=0,003) y padecer una infección oportunista (OR:0,31; IC 95%:0,10-0,90; p=0,030) fueron factores protectores. Conclusión: la edad próxima a los 23 años en la última visita se asoció al abandono de la terapia antirretroviral. La presencia de infección oportunista y el uso de preservativos son factores determinantes para la continuidad del tratamiento durante el COVID-19.

Objetivo: identificar os fatores associados ao abandono da terapia antirretroviral entre adolescentes e jovens vivendo com HIV/aids durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Método: estudo caso-controle realizado entre 2020 e 2021 em Maringá, Paraná. Os casos foram: adolescentes e jovens (10 a 24 anos) diagnosticados com HIV/aids e que abandonaram o tratamento, enquanto o grupo dos controles foi composto por pessoas com características sociodemográficas semelhantes, diagnosticadas com HIV/aids, sem histórico de abandono de tratamento. O pareamento dos casos e controles foi por meio de conveniência, sendo quatro controles para cada caso. O instrumento de pesquisa apresentou variáveis sociodemográficas, características clínicas e outras, cuja associação com o abandono do tratamento foi analisada por meio de regressão logística. Resultados: 27 casos e 109 controles foram incluídos no estudo (proporção 1/4). A variável associada à maior chance de abandono foi idade próxima de 22,8 anos (ORaj.:1,47; IC95%:1,07-2,13; p=0,024). O uso esporádico de preservativo (ORaj:0,22; IC95%:0,07-0,59; p=0,003) e ter infecção oportunista (OR:0,31; IC95%:0,10-0,90; p=0,030) foram fatores de proteção. Conclusão: idade próxima a 23 anos na última consulta foi associada ao abandono da terapia antirretroviral. A presença de infecção oportunista e o uso de preservativo são fatores determinantes para continuidade do tratamento durante a COVID-19.

Objetivo Analisar as notificações, o excesso de risco e a distribuição espacial da violência doméstica contra as mulheres no Brasil, entre 2015 e 2020.

Objective: to identify the factors associated with antiretroviral therapy abandonment among adolescents and young people living with HIV/AIDS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: a case-control study carried out between 2020 and 2021 in Maringá, Paraná. The cases corresponded to the following: adolescents and young people (aged from 10 to 24 years old) diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and who abandoned treatment, while the Control Group consisted of people with similar sociodemographic characteristics, diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and with no history of treatment abandonment. Pairing of the cases and controls was by convenience, with four controls for each case. The research instrument presented sociodemographic variables, clinical characteristics and others, whose association with treatment abandonment was analyzed by means of logistic regression. Results: a total of 27 cases and 109 controls were included in the study (1/4 ratio). The variable associated with an increased chance of abandonment was age close to 22.8 years old (ORadj: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.07-2.13; p=0.024). Sporadic condom use (ORadj: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.07-0.59; p=0.003) and having an opportunistic infection (OR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.10-0.90; p=0.030) were protective factors. Conclusion: age close to 23 years old at the last consultation was associated with antiretroviral therapy abandonment. The presence of opportunistic infections and condom use are determining factors for treatment continuity during COVID-19.