Sleep and memory complaints in long COVID: an insight into clustered psychological phenotypes.

This study evaluated clinical features of individuals with long COVID (5-8 months after diagnosis) who reported sleep and memory problems (62 cases) compared to those without (52 controls). Both groups had a similar mean age (41 vs. 39 years). Around 86% of the participants were non-hospitalized at the time of infection, and none of them were vaccinated at that point. Subsequently, both cases and controls received the vaccine; however, the vaccination rates differed significantly between the groups (30.7% vs. 51.0%). Cases and controls had similar rates of symptoms at acute COVID phase. However, cases were more likely to experience coryza, dyspnea, headache, and nausea/vomiting during long COVID. Regarding new-onset symptoms in long COVID, 12.9% of cases had dyspnea, and 14.5% experienced nausea/vomiting, whereas in the control group there were only 1.9% and 0.0%, respectively. Cases also had a significantly higher prevalence of persistent headache (22.6% vs. 7.7%), and dyspnea (12.9% vs. 0.0). In addition, cases also showed an increased rate of mental health complaints: disability in daily activities (45.2% vs. 9.6%; P < 0.001); concentration/sustained attention difficulties (74.2% vs. 9.6%; P < 0.001); anxiety-Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item scale (GAD-2) ≥ 3 (66.1% vs. 34.6%; P = 0.0013); and "post-COVID sadness" (82.3% vs. 40.4%; P < 0.001). We observed a significant correlation between sadness and anxiety in cases, which was not observed in controls (P=0.0212; Spearman correlation test). Furthermore, the frequency of concomitant sadness and anxiety was markedly higher in cases compared to controls (59.7% vs. 19.2%) (P < 0.0001; Mann-Whitney test). These findings highlight a noteworthy association between sadness and anxiety specifically in cases. In conclusion, our data identified concurrent psychological phenotypes in individuals experiencing sleep and memory disturbances during long COVID. This strengthens the existing evidence that SARS-CoV-2 causes widespread brain pathology with interconnected phenotypic clusters. This finding highlights the need for comprehensive medical attention to address these complex issues, as well as major investments in testing strategies capable of preventing the development of long COVID sequelae, such as vaccination.

Factors associated with mortality of the elderly due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions, between 2008 and 2018, in the Federal District, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: In Brazil, the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, or SUS) provides health care, and an aging population overwhelms the system due to the greater vulnerability of the elderly. In the Federal District, two models of primary care coexist-the traditional primary care and the family health strategy. The present study aimed to analyze the factors associated with mortality of the elderly due to conditions sensitive to ambulatory care in the Federal District, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study investigated all deaths that occurred in people over 60 years old between 2008 and 2018. The variables studied were age at death, sex, marital status, education, race/color, death by condition sensitive to ambulatory care, and population coverage of primary care services. The Urban Well-Being Index (UWBI) was used, which includes the dimensions: mobility, environmental and housing conditions, infrastructure, and collective services, to analyze issues related to the place where the senior citizen resides. RESULTS: The deaths 70,503 senior citizens were recorded during the study period. The factors associated with mortality in the elderly due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions were male, lower income, and less education. Residing in a place with poor UWBI presented a response gradient with higher mortality. Increased ambulatory care coverage was also associated with lower mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The study evidenced an association between male gender, age, income, and education, and UWBI with lower mortality due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions, and these associations presented a response gradient. The study also found that increased coverage of the elderly population was associated with lower mortality from sensitive conditions.

Possibilidades e limites das práticas de monitoramento e avaliação em municípios acima de 50 mil habitantes / Possibilities and limits of monitoring practices and evaluation management in municipalities above 50 thousand inhabitants / Posibilidades y límites de las prácticas de monitoreo y evaluación en las ciudades más de 50000 habitantes

Objetivo - O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a percepção dos dirigentes das Secretarias Municipais quanto às práticas e processos do monitoramento e avaliação no âmbito da gestão governamental. Metodologia - Foi aplicado questionário a dirigentes governamentais (secretários ou técnicos) de municípios com mais de 50 mil habitantes e que aderiram ao Pacto ela Saúde, obtendo-se 89 municípios. Resultados - Em que pese a maioria dos respondentes possuir os instrumentos de gestão e, fazer uso de sistemas de informação para subsidiar a tomada de decisão, podem ser consideradas como inadequadas ou insuficientes. Conclusão - Considerando-se as necessidades institucionais e os desafios a serem superados, é preciso fortalecer a organização de práticas que possibilitem a institucionalização do M&A no âmbito da gestão municipal.

Objective - The study aimed at investigating the perceptions of Local Administration Leaders in what concerned the practices and processes of monitoring and evaluation related to public management. Methods - A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to local government leaders (technicians and undersecretaries) from eighty-nine cities over 50,000 inhabitants that joined the "Pacto pela Saude". Results - Despite of the fact that the majority of respondents was equipped with management tools and made use of information systems to orient the decision-making processes, such use can be considered either inadequate or inefficient. Conclusion - Bearing in mind the institutional needs and challenges to betackled, the paper has demonstrated the existence of significant gaps in relation to organizational practices that allow the institutionalization of M&A within the municipal administration, thus demonstrating a challenge to be overcome.

Objetive - El objetivo de este estudio fue verificar las percepciones de los líderes de los departamentos municipales en cuanto a las prácticas y procesos de seguimiento y evaluación en el contexto de la gestión gubernamental. Metodologia - Fue el cuestionario aplicado a los jefes de gobierno (gerentes o técnicos) de los municipios con más de cincuenta mil habitantes y se unió al Pacto le salud, con obtencion de 89 municipios. Resultados: Se constató que, aunque la mayoría de los encuestados con las herramientas de gestión, hacer uso de sistemas de información para apoyar la toma de decisiones, puede considerarse inadecuado o insuficiente. Conclusión - Teniendo en cuenta las necesidades institucionales y retos que superar, es necesario fortalecer la organización de las prácticas que faciliten la institucionalización de M & A en el marco de la gestión municipal

[Humanism in the practice of Cuban cooperating physicians in Brazil: narratives of basic health care teamsHumanismo na prática dos médicos colaboradores cubanos no Brasil: narrativas das equipes de atenção básica]. / Humanismo en la práctica de médicos cooperantes cubanos en Brasil: narrativas de equipos de atención básica.

OBJECTIVE: To present the narratives of Brazilian members of family health teams with regard to the humanism perceived in the practice of Cuban physician cooperating in the Mais Médicos program. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive case study. A semi-structured interview was applied to Brazilian members of family health teams who had worked from the beginning of the program with Cuban physicians in selected municipalities included in the Mais Médicos program (20% or more of the population in extreme poverty and less than five physicians or a rate of 0.5 physicians per 1, 000 population prior to the program). The data were processed using the content analysis technique. RESULTS: Interviews were held with 30 senior nurses, 28 nursing assistants, one administrative technician, and 19 health agents. The interviewees offered a positive assessment of the work of the Cuban cooperating physicians, emphasizing their responsibility, ethics, and humanism, as well as the high quality of their medical -consultations and their good relations with their peers in basic health care teams. CONCLUSIONS: There were confirmed differences between the patterns of care of the Cuban cooperating physicians in the Mais Médicos program and the physicians who were working before in the studied communities prior to implementation of that program. The differential features of the Cuban physicians most frequently mentioned include their commitment to the population (both in medical consultations and in solving people's problems), their empathy, their respect, and in general, the human values with which they treat patients.

OBJETIVO: Apresentar as narrativas dos integrantes brasileiros das equipes de saúde da família sobre o humanismo percebido na prática dos colaboradores cubanos do Programa Mais Médicos. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo de caso descritivo transversal. Foi realizada uma entrevista semiestruturada com os integrantes brasileiros das equipes de saúde da família que trabalhavam desde o início do programa com médicos cubanos em municípios selecionados cadastrados no Programa Mais Médicos. Estas localidades têm 20% ou mais da população vivendo em situação de extrema pobreza, contando com menos de cinco médicos (taxa de 0,5 médico por 1.000 habitantes) antes do programa. Os dados foram analisados com o uso da técnica de análise de conteúdo. RESULTADOS: Foram entrevistados 30 enfermeiros diplomados, 28 técnicos em enfermagem, 1 técnico administrativo e 19 agentes comunitários de saúde. Os participantes avaliaram de forma positiva o trabalho dos médicos colaboradores cubanos destacando características como responsabilidade, postura ética e humanismo bem como a alta qualidade das consultas médicas e o bom relacionamento com os pares da atenção básica. CONCLUSÕES: Foram constatadas diferenças no padrão de atenção dos médicos colaboradores cubanos do Programa Mais Médicos em relação aos médicos brasileiros que atuavam nas comunidades estudadas antes da implantação do programa. Entre as características distintivas dos médicos cubanos destacadas estão o compromisso com os pacientes, tanto na consulta médica quanto na solução de problemas, a empatia, o respeito e o humanismo em geral com que eles tratam os pacientes.