Seasonality of the incidence of bronchiolitis in infants — Brazil, 2016-2022: An interrupted time-series analysis / Sazonalidade da incidência de bronquiolite em lactentes — Brasil, 2016-2022: Uma análise de série temporal interrompida

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the seasonality of acute bronchiolitis in Brazil during the 2020-2022 season and compare it with the previous seasons. Methods: Data from the incidence of hospitalizations due to acute bronchiolitis in infants <1 year of age were obtained from the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Public Health database for the period between 2016 and 2022. These data were also analyzed by macro-regions of Brazil (North, Northeast, Southeast, South, and Midwest). To describe seasonal and trend characteristics over time, we used the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Averages Model. Results: Compared to the pre-COVID-19 period, the incidence of hospitalizations related to acute bronchiolitis decreased by 97% during non-pharmacological interventions (March 2020 - August 2021) but increased by 95% after non-pharmacological interventions relaxation (September 2021 - December 2022), resulting in a 16% overall increase. During the pre-COVID-19 period, hospitalizations for acute bronchiolitis followed a seasonal pattern, which was disrupted in 2020-2021 but recovered in 2022, with a peak occurring in May, approximately 4% higher than the pre-COVID-19 peak. Conclusions: This study underscores the significant influence of COVID-19 interventions on acute bronchiolitis hospitalizations in Brazil. The restoration of a seasonal pattern in 2022 highlights the interplay between public health measures and respiratory illness dynamics in young children.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a sazonalidade da bronquiolite aguda no Brasil durante a temporada 2020-2022 e compará-la com a das temporadas anteriores. Métodos: Os dados de incidência de internações por bronquiolite aguda em lactentes <1 ano de idade foram obtidos do Departamento de Informática da base de dados da Saúde Pública Brasileira para o período entre 2016 e 2022. Esses dados também foram analisados por macrorregiões do Brasil (Norte, Nordeste, Sudeste, Sul e Centro-Oeste). Para descrever características sazonais e de tendência ao longo do tempo, utilizamos o Modelo de Médias Móveis Integradas Autorregressivas Sazonais. Resultados: Em comparação com o período pré-COVID-19, a incidência de hospitalizações relacionadas com bronquiolite aguda diminuiu 97% durante as intervenções não farmacológicas (março de 2020 - agosto de 2021), mas aumentou 95% após a flexibilização das intervenções não farmacológicas (setembro de 2021 - dezembro de 2022), resultando no aumento geral de 16%. Durante o período pré-COVID-19, as hospitalizações por bronquiolite aguda seguiram um padrão sazonal, que foi interrompido em 2020-2021, mas recuperaram-se em 2022, com um pico ocorrido em maio, aproximadamente 4% superior ao pico pré-COVID-19. Conclusões: Este estudo ressalta a influência significativa das intervenções contra a COVID-19 nas hospitalizações por bronquiolite aguda no Brasil. A restauração de um padrão sazonal em 2022 sublinha a interação entre as medidas de saúde pública e a dinâmica das doenças respiratórias em crianças pequenas.

Prolonged Grief, Posttraumatic Stress and Depression Symptoms Before and After COVID-19 in Brazil.

This study aims to explore the differences in prolonged grief (PDG), posttraumatic stress (PTSD), and depression symptoms (MDD) following the loss of a loved one before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a cross-sectional design, 888 bereaved individuals were classified on different groups according to the cause of death. Results indicate that participants who experienced a loss during the pandemic, regardless of the cause, presented higher levels of prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress and depression when compared to those who lost a loved one before the pandemic. This study sheds light on the environmental influences (ex: the COVID-19 pandemic) on the grieving process, emphasizing the need to take the context into account when tailoring interventions in bereavement and mental health care.

Text mining method to unravel long COVID's clinical condition in hospitalized patients.

Long COVID is characterized by persistent that extends symptoms beyond established timeframes. Its varied presentation across different populations and healthcare systems poses significant challenges in understanding its clinical manifestations and implications. In this study, we present a novel application of text mining technique to automatically extract unstructured data from a long COVID survey conducted at a prominent university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Our phonetic text clustering (PTC) method enables the exploration of unstructured Electronic Healthcare Records (EHR) data to unify different written forms of similar terms into a single phonemic representation. We used n-gram text analysis to detect compound words and negated terms in Portuguese-BR, focusing on medical conditions and symptoms related to long COVID. By leveraging text mining, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of this chronic condition and its implications for healthcare systems globally. The model developed in this study has the potential for scalability and applicability in other healthcare settings, thereby supporting broader research efforts and informing clinical decision-making for long COVID patients.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer mortality in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, data projections indicated an increase in cancer mortality for the following years due to the overload of health services and the replacement of health priorities. The first studies published with data from mortality records have not confirmed these projections. However, cancer mortality is not an outcome that occurs immediately, and analyses with more extended follow-up periods are necessary. This study aims to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mortality from all types and the five most common types of cancer in Brazil and investigate the relationship between the density of hospital beds and mortality from COVID-19 in cancer patients in Brazil's Intermediate Geographic Regions (RGIs). METHODS: The Brazilian Mortality Information System provided data on the deaths from trachea, bronchus, and lung, colorectal, stomach, female breast, and prostate cancer and all types of cancer, and from COVID-19 in individuals who had cancer as a contributing cause of death. Predicted rates for 2020-2022 were compared with the observed ones, through a rate ratio (RR). An association analysis, through multivariate linear regression, was carried out between mortality from COVID-19 in cancer patients, the rate of hospital beds per 100,000 inhabitants, and the Human Development Index of the 133 RGIs of Brazil. RESULTS: In 2020, 2021, and 2022, mortality from all cancers in Brazil was lower than expected, with an RR of 0.95, 0.94, and 0.95, respectively, between the observed and predicted rates. Stomach cancer showed the largest difference between observed and expected rates: RR = 0.89 in 2020 and 2021; RR = 0.88 in 2022. Mortality from COVID-19 in cancer patients, which reached its peak in 2021 (6.0/100,000), was negatively associated with the density of hospital beds in the public health system. CONCLUSIONS: The lower-than-expected cancer mortality during 2020-2022 seems to be partly explained by mortality from COVID-19 in cancer patients, which was probably underestimated in Brazil. The findings suggested a protective role of the availability of hospital care concerning deaths due to COVID-19 in this population. More extensive follow-up is needed to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer mortality.

[Epidemiological intelligence, investment in information technologies and new perspectives for the use of data in health surveillance]. / Inteligência epidemiológica, investimento em tecnologias da informação e as novas perspectivas para o uso de dados na vigilância em saúde.

In the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the incorporation of the concept of epidemic intelligence and technological resources has supported new perspectives for the use of data by health surveillance, since the COVID-19 pandemic. This article presents the Epidemiological Intelligence Center (CIE) and the tools and products developed in its coordination. The CIE was inaugurated in March 2022, with a multiprofessional team, supported by the premises of transparency and integration of various data sources for early detection of changes in the trends of events of importance in Public Health. The initial acquisition of a data lake favored changes in the consumption, management and security processes for the data processed. This data lake currently stores the Carioca Base - a retrospective cohort of individuals with a history of COVID-19 vaccination and/or events related to the disease. Descriptive and analytical dashboards have been developed and made available, respectively for public use and for health surveillance administrators. An alert panel, aimed at monitoring trends in care in the urgency and emergency network, was implemented and subsidizes rapid response actions in the city's territories. The CIE developed the concept of epidemiological intelligence in the Brazilian Unified National Health System and this paradigm shift was made possible by investments in physical/human resources, the integration of epidemiological, statistical and data science methods, as well as the incorporation of different data sources in data analysis.

No Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, a incorporação do conceito de inteligência epidêmica e de recursos tecnológicos sustentou novas perspectivas para a utilização de dados pela vigilância em saúde, a partir da pandemia de COVID-19. Neste artigo apresenta-se o Centro de Inteligência Epidemiológica (CIE), ferramentas e produtos desenvolvidos na coordenação. O CIE foi inaugurado em março de 2022, com equipe multiprofissional, apoiado nas premissas de transparência e integração de diversas fontes de dados para detecção precoce de mudanças nas tendências de eventos de importância em Saúde Pública. A aquisição inicial de um data lake favoreceu mudanças nos processos de consumo, gerenciamento e segurança para os dados processados. Esse data lake armazena, atualmente, a Base Carioca - uma coorte retrospectiva composta de indivíduos com histórico vacinal para COVID-19 e/ou eventos relacionados à doença. Painéis descritivos e analíticos foram desenvolvidos e disponibilizados, respectivamente, para uso público e para os gestores da vigilância em saúde. Um painel de alertas, voltado ao monitoramento de tendências nos atendimentos da rede de urgência e emergência municipal, foi implantado e subsidiou ações de resposta rápida nos territórios da cidade. O CIE desenvolveu o conceito de inteligência epidemiológica no Sistema Único de Saúde, e essa mudança de paradigma tornou-se possível em função de investimentos em recursos físicos/humanos, integração de métodos epidemiológicos, estatísticos e das ciências de dados, além de incorporação de fontes de dados diferenciadas nas análises de dados.

En el municipio de Río de Janeiro, Brasil, la inclusión del concepto de inteligencia epidémica y de recursos tecnológicos favoreció nuevas perspectivas en el uso de datos por parte de la vigilancia sanitaria desde la pandemia del COVID-19. Este artículo presenta el Centro de Inteligencia Epidemiológica (CIE), las herramientas y los productos desarrollados en coordinación. El CIE se creó en marzo de 2022 con un equipo multidisciplinar bajo las premisas de transparencia e integración de diversas fuentes de datos para la detección temprana de cambios en las tendencias a grandes eventos en Salud Pública. La adquisición inicial de un data lake promovió cambios en los procesos de consumo, gestión y seguridad de los datos procesados. Este data lake almacena actualmente la Base Carioca, una cohorte retrospectiva compuesta por individuos con antecedentes de vacunación contra el COVID-19 y/o eventos relacionados con la enfermedad. Se desarrollaron paneles descriptivos y analíticos, y se los pusieron a disposición, respectivamente, para uso público y para los gerentes de la vigilancia sanitaria. Se implementó un panel de alerta, dirigido a monitorear las tendencias a la asistencia en la red de urgencia y emergencia del municipio, el cual subvenciona acciones de pronta respuesta en los territorios de la ciudad. El CIE desarrolló el concepto de inteligencia epidemiológica en el Sistema Único de Salud, y este cambio de paradigma se hizo posible gracias a las inversiones en recursos físicos/humanos, la integración de métodos epidemiológicos, estadísticos y de ciencia de datos, además de la inclusión de fuentes de datos diferenciadas en el análisis de datos.

A spatially resolved single-cell lung atlas integrated with clinical and blood signatures distinguishes COVID-19 disease trajectories.

COVID-19 is characterized by a broad range of symptoms and disease trajectories. Understanding the correlation between clinical biomarkers and lung pathology during acute COVID-19 is necessary to understand its diverse pathogenesis and inform more effective treatments. Here, we present an integrated analysis of longitudinal clinical parameters, peripheral blood markers, and lung pathology in 142 Brazilian patients hospitalized with COVID-19. We identified core clinical and peripheral blood signatures differentiating disease progression between patients who recovered from severe disease compared with those who succumbed to the disease. Signatures were heterogeneous among fatal cases yet clustered into two patient groups: "early death" (<15 days until death) and "late death" (>15 days). Progression to early death was characterized systemically and in lung histopathological samples by rapid endothelial and myeloid activation and the presence of thrombi associated with SARS-CoV-2+ macrophages. In contrast, progression to late death was associated with fibrosis, apoptosis, and SARS-CoV-2+ epithelial cells in postmortem lung tissue. In late death cases, cytotoxicity, interferon, and T helper 17 (TH17) signatures were only detectable in the peripheral blood after 2 weeks of hospitalization. Progression to recovery was associated with higher lymphocyte counts, TH2 responses, and anti-inflammatory-mediated responses. By integrating antemortem longitudinal blood signatures and spatial single-cell lung signatures from postmortem lung samples, we defined clinical parameters that could be used to help predict COVID-19 outcomes.

Care management and leadership according to nurses' perception in the hospital context of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To understand how nursing care management occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: A qualitative study conducted at a university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. The sample consisted of eight nurses who worked caring for patients who tested positive for COVID-19. Data collection was carried out through semi structured interviews about experiences in managing care in coping with the pandemic. Thematic analysis and interpretation based on psychodynamics of work were used in data analysis. RESULTS: The results allowed constructing three thematic categories: The invisible that limits: biosafety, distress, uncertainty and fear of the pandemic, protecting oneself and ensuring the protection of others; Management work process instruments: team training, staff sizing, materials management, creative practice in the face of insufficiency; The competencies involved with the team, teamwork and leadership. CONCLUSION: Care management in COVID-19 was permeated by objective and subjective conditions, with situations of distress, pleasure, fear, insecurity and creative adaptation. Teamwork and leadership competencies, when present, can alleviate the distress that occurs in nursing work.

Appendectomy: Cross-sectional study of the effects of COVID-19 in a hospital in South Brazil.

Background: COVID-19 has further burdened the Brazilian healthcare system, especially emergencies. Patients may have delayed seeking care for surgical abdominal pain. Delays in the approach may have impacted clinical evolution and outcomes. This study evaluated appendectomies and their complications performed by the public system during one-year follow-up of COVID-19 in a hospital in southern Brazil. Materials and methods: In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, we included adult patients who underwent appendectomy from March 2019 to April 2021 (n = 162). Patients were divided into pre-pandemic (n = 78) and pandemic (n = 84) groups based on the surgery date. The analyzed variables included hospitalization duration, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, surgical approach, histopathological findings, COVID-19 testing, patient outcomes, and 30-day survival rate. Results: The cohorts exhibited similar epidemiology, with the sex ratio and average age being maintained. No statistical difference was found in the 30-day survival rate and clinical outcomes. Of the four patients admitted to the ICU, three belonged to the pandemic cohort and tested negative for COVID-19. Only 47.6 % of the patients in the pandemic cohort underwent COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction examination; one tested positive (2.5 %). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there was no increased risk for appendectomies during the first wave of the pandemic. Surgeries were safe during this period. Patients continued to access the emergency service despite surgical abdominal pain and restrictive measures imposed by health authorities. The similar results observed across cohorts are attributed to the readiness of the teams and the availability of medical surgical equipment in safe quantities.

Breast cancer and cervical cancer: a comparison of the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted cancer health care in several countries, with delays in the detection and treatment of breast and cervical cancer. The objective of this study is to analyze and compare the screening, diagnosis and treatment of breast and cervical cancer in the pre-COVID period and during the COVID-19 period. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with secondary data collected from the Mortality Information System (SIM), Hospital Information System (SIH), Ambulatory Information System (SIA) and the Oncology Panel (PO) of breast cancer notifications with ICD C50.0 to C50.9 and cervix ICD C53.0 to C53.9, The analyzed period before the pandemic was from March 1 to October 1, 2019, and during the pandemic from March 1 to October 1, 2020. The period from 2013 to 2022 was also analyzed with the same information, including the number of diagnoses, treatments, and deaths from breast cancer and cervical cancer. The study population consisted of Brazilian women aged 25 to 70 years. In order to compare categorical variables between periods, the Chi-Square or Fisher's Exact tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests were applied, and the Poisson Regression model was applied to model the number of reported cases of COVID-19 and the amount of procedures. RESULTS: There was a decrease in the number of mammograms and cytopathological exams during COVID-19, as well as a decrease in cases of breast and cervical cancer. The Poisson regression showed that the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases caused a decrease in the number of breast cytopathological examinations, cervical-vaginal cytopathological examinations/microflora and screening, diagnosis, initiation of treatment for breast cancer and deaths from this disease. Meanwhile, in some regions of Brazil, as the number of Covid-19 increased, there was a significantly increase in the number of mammograms performed and cervical cancer diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 period in 2020 significantly impacted screening, diagnosis, treatment for breast and cervical cancer.

Digital health literacy, behavior and knowledge of adolescents for hand hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate factors associated with digital health literacy, hand hygiene knowledge and behavior among Brazilian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: cross-sectional study with 473 adolescents aged 15 to 19. Data were collected virtually between June and August 2021 through a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, digital health literacy, knowledge and behavior regarding hand hygiene. Variables were adjusted using multiple linear regression models with normal response. RESULTS: the average digital health literacy score was 29.89 ±5.30; for hand hygiene knowledge and behavior was 13.1 ±1.5 and 11.1±2.7, respectively. Higher knowledge and behavior scores for hand hygiene were associated with having completed high school, compared to those attending college, among those who attend health courses, seek information about the pandemic and in scientific articles. Higher digital health literacy scores in adolescents who did not wear masks when playing sports (p= 0.017). There was an association between digital health literacy and knowledge (p = 0.000) and behavior (p = 0.000) regarding hand hygiene. CONCLUSION: there is an association between higher digital health literacy scores and hand hygiene knowledge and behavior.

Social inequalities in self-reported SARS-CoV-2 infection in Brazilian adults: PNAD COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate inequalities related to race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status in self-reported positive diagnosis for COVID-19 in Brazilian adults. METHODS: Data available from the National Household Sample Survey COVID-19 (PNAD COVID 19) (July/September/November, 2020) were used in this retrospective investigation. The analyses considered the sampling design, primary sampling units, strata and sample weights. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to estimate prevalence ratio (PR) and the 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of the associations. RESULTS: In July, September and November 2020, with regard to the rapid test, indigenous people were 2.45 (95%CI 1.48-4.08), 2.53 (95%CI 1.74-4.41) and 1.23 (95%CI 1.11-1.86) times more likely to report a positive history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, respectively. With regard to the RT-PCR test in November, indigenous people were more likely to test positive for COVID-19 (PR: 1.90; 95%CI 1.07-3.38). It was observed that the indigenous group was 1.86 (95%CI 1.05-3.29) and 2.11 (95%CI 1.12-3.59) times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 in September and November (2020). Income was associated with testing positive for COVID-19: in November, individuals whose income ranged from R$0.00-R$1.044 were more likely (PR: 1.69; 95%CI 1.16-23.06) to test positive using the RT-PCR test; participants whose income was in this range were also more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 using blood tests (PR: 1.72; 95%CI 1.43-2.07). CONCLUSION: The data presented show an association between race/ethnicity and economic status with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19.

Score of fear of COVID-19 and physical activity level are related to the habitual consumption of dietary supplements.

The measures implemented to contain the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in both behavioral and lifestyle changes. The "Changes in Lifestyle-Related Behavior" instrument was developed to assess lifestyle-related behaviors in the Indian population. However, considering current knowledge, this instrument was not adapted for the Brazilian population. In addition, the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and consumption of dietary supplements has not yet been evaluated. Thus, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the use of dietary supplements with lifestyle behavior and the fear of COVID-19, as well as assess the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the "Changes in Lifestyle-Related Behavior" instrument. An online questionnaire assessed sociodemographic, occupational, anthropometric, physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form), fear of COVID-19, and lifestyle behavior data from 416 Brazilian adults (237 females; 18-60y). Mann-Whitney, Chi-square test, exploratory, and confirmatory analyses were applied. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses showed a satisfactory adequacy level of the questionnaire (CMIN/DF = 2.689; Cronbach's α = 0.60) with 5 domains ('Bad eating behavior'; 'Healthy eating'; 'Sleep quality'; 'Interest in cooking'; 'Number of portions and meals'). Lower fear of COVID-19 scores and higher levels of physical activity were found in participants who reported previous dietary supplement intake during the pandemic; in addition, the group that did not ingest dietary supplements reported greater changes in stress and anxiety levels during the pandemic (p<0.05). The intake of dietary supplements before the pandemic was associated with greater energy expenditure and better coping with the fear of COVID-19 during the pandemic. Additionally, the Changes in Lifestyle-Related Behavior tool can be used to assess lifestyle-related variables during the pandemic.

Determining factors for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Brazilians: a study using structural equation modeling.

OBJECTIVES: to investigate the factors influencing vaccine hesitancy against COVID-19 among Brazilians. METHODS: this research employed an observational and analytical approach, utilizing a web-based survey. Data collection took place in 2020, and data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was found to be 27.5% (1182 individuals). There is a negative correlation between belief in conspiracy theories and social influence. Among the various beliefs associated with vaccination intentions, only conspiracy beliefs exhibited significant predictive value. Thus, the findings suggest that personal beliefs significantly impact hesitancy towards vaccination, and also indicate that trust in governmental bodies is inversely related to hesitancy. CONCLUSIONS: vaccine hesitancy emerges as a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by a complex array of factors, including personal beliefs, trust in governmental bodies, and healthcare systems.

Meanings attributed to changes experienced by individuals after COVID-19 hospitalization.

OBJECTIVES: to understand the meanings attributed to the experiences of individuals after hospitalization for COVID-19. METHODS: qualitative study, with a theoretical framework based on Symbolic Interactionism and a methodological approach grounded in Grounded Theory. Nineteen participants who had moderate and severe forms of COVID-19 after hospitalization were interviewed. Data collection took place between April and November 2021 through online interviews, and the data were analyzed using initial and focused coding in the MAXQDA software. RESULTS: the data illustrate new meanings attributed to different aspects of life after hospitalization, including relationships with others, the environment, physical and mental health, finances, identity, and interactions with a new social reality. CONCLUSIONS: the meanings are intrinsically linked to the value of interpersonal relationships, the perception of their impact, and the consequences after hospitalization. This allows professionals to understand the importance of this information to improve care and prepare for future epidemics.

Patient safety culture in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in a hospital.

OBJECTIVES: to assess patient safety culture during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the dimensions that need to be improved in hospital settings and which sector, open or closed, direct or indirect care, exhibits a higher level of safety culture. METHODS: a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The validated version for Brazil of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture instrument was applied to assess patient safety culture. Those dimensions with 75% positive responses were considered strengthened. RESULTS: all dimensions presented results lower than 75% of positive responses. Closed sectors showed a stronger safety culture compared to open ones. Indirect care sectors had a low general perception of patient safety when compared to direct care sectors. CONCLUSIONS: with the pandemic, points of weakness became even more evident, requiring attention and incisive interventions from the institution's leaders.

Negative affectivity in university students and its relationship with academic performance and professional outlook after COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the prevalence of negative affectivity in university students in the post-COVID-19 pandemic context and its relationship with academic performance and professional outlook. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted with undergraduate students from a public university in Minas Gerais between September 2022 and September 2023. Data were collected using a sociodemographic and psychosocial characterization questionnaire and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21. The relationships between negative affectivity, academic performance, and professional outlook were verified using the Kruskal-Wallis test, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: a total of 585 students participated in the study. A high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was found among university students in the post-COVID-19 context, with a notable severity of anxiety. A negative association was detected between the investigated negative affectivity, academic performance, and professional outlook. CONCLUSIONS: the results indicate an emotional vulnerability in university students, with a relationship between negative affectivity and a decline in academic performance and professional outlook.

The role of primary healthcare amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from the Family Health Strategy in Brazil.

This paper investigates the role of primary healthcare in mitigating the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the Brazilian Family Health Strategy (ESF) as a case study. ESF is Brazil's major primary care initiative, with prior evidence indicating its effectiveness in improving various health outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic submitted the Brazilian healthcare system to a rigorous and unprecedented stress test, whose repercussions are still under study. Using comprehensive administrative microdata from 2016 to 2022 encompassing dimensions related to mortality, healthcare service, supply of family health teams, and vaccination coverage, our empirical strategy accounts for heterogeneous effects based on program intensity and pandemic evolution of the 5570 Brazilian municipalities. Our findings reveal that municipalities with high-intensity of ESF coverage (i.e. stronger primary care) experienced 347.93 (95% CI: 289.04, 406.81) fewer COVID-19 and cardiorespiratory deaths per million inhabitants throughout the pandemic period, compared to those in low-intensity ESF areas, despite sharing similar profiles of deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. Among the channels contributing to this relative performance, high-intensity ESF municipalities were found to engage in more home-based primary care visits and health promotion activities while maintaining a similar supply of community health workers. Additionally, they achieved higher vaccination coverage, and these effects were more pronounced in areas with greater ESF presence, emphasising the importance of primary care coverage. In conclusion, our findings underscore the relevance of strong primary care in mitigating the consequences of the pandemic and addressing post-pandemic health challenges.

Effect of spirulina on risk of hospitalization among patients with COVID-19: the TOGETHER randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Algae-derived nutraceuticals, such as spirulina, have been reported to have biological activities that may minimize clinical consequences to COVID-19 infections. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine whether spirulina is an effective treatment for high-risk patients with early COVID-19 in an outpatient setting. METHODS: The TOGETHER trial is a placebo-controlled, randomized, platform trial conducted in Brazil. Eligible participants were symptomatic adults with a positive rapid test for SARS-CoV-2 older than 50 y or with a known risk factor for disease severity. Patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo or spirulina (1 g twice daily for 14 d). The primary end point was hospitalization defined as either retention in a COVID-19 emergency setting for >6 h or transfer to tertiary hospital owing to COVID-19 at 28 d. Secondary outcomes included time-to-hospitalization, mortality, and adverse drug reactions. We used a Bayesian framework to compare spirulina with placebo. RESULTS: We recruited 1126 participants, 569 randomly assigned to spirulina and 557 to placebo. The median age was 49.0 y, and 65.3% were female. The primary outcome occurred in 11.2% in the spirulina group and 8.1% in the placebo group (odds ratio [OR]: 1.24; 95% credible interval: 0.84, 1.86). There were no differences in emergency department visit (OR: 1.21; 95% credible interval: 0.81, 1.83), nor time to symptom relief (hazard ratio: 0.90; 95% credible interval: 0.79, 1.03). Spirulina also not demonstrate important treatment effects in the prespecified subgroups defined by age, sex, BMI, days since symptom onset, or vaccination status. CONCLUSIONS: Spirulina has no any clinical benefits as an outpatient therapy for COVID-19 compared with placebo with respect to reducing the retention in an emergency setting or COVID-19-related hospitalization. There are no differences between spirulina and placebo for other secondary outcomes. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04727424.

A Population-based Epidemiologic Study of Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Fatalities in Brazilian Children over Three Years.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive overview of the epidemiologic characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors of COVID-19-related deaths in children and adolescents in Brazil. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study that included all patients aged <18 years with laboratory-confirmed, symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection as registered in official Brazilian national surveillance systems for COVID-19 between February 2020 and February 2023. The primary outcome was COVID-19-related deaths. Odds ratios (ORs) of risk factors associated with death were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Over a three-year period, 2,855,704 pediatric patients with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection were registered in Brazil. Of these, 59,179 (2.1%) were hospitalized, 13,844 (0.48%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 4,943 (0.17%) received mechanical ventilation. A total of 4,740 (0.17%) patients had fatal outcomes. The case fatality rate increased to 7.9% among patients who required hospitalization; 2,102 (44.3%) patients who died did not receive advanced critical support. Notably, two (65%, 95% CI 58-71) or three doses (86%, 95% CI 81-89) of the vaccine provided strong protection against death. The following adjusted covariates were significantly associated with increased odds of death: age (0-4 and 11-17 years), ethnicity (Brown and Indigenous), region (Northeast or North), dyspnea, nosocomial infection, and comorbidities. Conversely, living in the South or Central-West regions, admission in the later period of the pandemic, and receiving a vaccine were all associated with protection against death. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a complex interplay between individual factors and social inequities has shaped the impact of COVID-19 on Brazilian children and adolescents.