A post-pandemic snapshot of the magnitude of COVID-19 in Brazil: A countrywide study

After the end of the pandemic on May 5, 2023, the virus has killed up to 7 million people, around 700,000 of them in Brazil. A subset of patients who survived COVID-19 have developed a range of clinical symptoms that persisted after the acute phase, including dyspnea, fatigue, headache, and loss of smell and taste. This condition has received many labels, such as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, persistent post-COVID-19 syndrome, and long-COVID-19.

Brazil faced unique challenges exacerbated by socioeconomic factors that contributed to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases during the initial course of the epidemic. Understanding the complex challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly affected human life for more than three years, and the implications of the long COVID-19 is crucial for healthcare planning in the future. This study aims to outline the features of COVID-19 and its lasting effects in Brazil through a telephone survey that represents the entire population.

Data from the Telephone Survey of Risk Factors for Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases During the Pandemic (Covitel), a telephone survey of individuals aged 18 years or older from all macro-regions of Brazil, were used. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics and outcomes related to COVID-19 infection, severity, vaccination, and use of masks.

There were inequalities in COVID-19 testing in Brazil. Testing and vaccination policies implemented in the COVID-19 pandemic must be reevaluated by the Brazilian government.