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

Eduardo Ribes Kohn; Maristela Bohlke; Antônia Almeida; Leandro Janelli; Luciana Monteiro Vasconcelos Sardinha; Fernando C Wehrmeister; Pedro Curi Hallal

doi:10.1016/j.bjid.2024.104496

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

Braz J Infect Dis. 2024 Dec 21;29(1):104496. doi: 10.1016/j.bjid.2024.104496. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Eduardo Ribes Kohn¹, Maristela Bohlke², Antônia Almeida², Leandro Janelli², Luciana Monteiro Vasconcelos Sardinha³, Fernando C Wehrmeister⁴, Pedro Curi Hallal⁵

Affiliations

¹ Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física, Pelotas, RS, Brasil. Electronic address: eribeskohn@gmail.com.
² Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
³ Vital Strategies, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
⁴ Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
⁵ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, Urbana, IL, USA.

PMID: 39709886
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2024.104496

Abstract

Objective: To outline the features of COVID-19 in Brazil through a countrywide telephone survey.

Methods: 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.

Results: Data revealed that 34.7 % (95 %CI 32.4 - 37.1) of the population had been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 10.1 % (95 %CI 7.9 - 12.7) of those required hospital admission. The prevalence of COVID-19 diagnosis increased with education level: <8 years (26.6 % [95 %CI 23.1 - 30.7]), 9-11 years (33.4 % [95 %CI 29.4 - 37.7]), and >11 years (53.2 % [95 % CI 49.7 - 56.8]). Nevertheless, the hospitalization rate of Brazilians with more than eleven years of education was lower (5.8 % [95 %CI 4.3 - 7.6]). In 2023, 92.9 % (95 %CI 90.9 - 94.4) of the Brazilian population was fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but only 37.2 % (95 %CI 33.5 - 40.9) have received the updated vaccinal scheme (two doses and two boosters). During the pandemic outbreak, 81.9 % (95 %CI 79.4 - 84.2) reported always using face masks. However, only 16.1 % (95 %CI 13.5 - 19.0) maintained this practice in 2023.

Conclusion: 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.

Keywords: Adults; Brazil; COVID-19; Long COVID.