Ministry of Health begins study on Covid sequelae – 03/12/2024 – Health

The Ministry of Health has started the second phase of data collection for Epicovid 2.0. The objective of the study is to assess the dimension of the Covid pandemic in Brazil and support the creation of public policies aimed at treating long Covid.

The research — commissioned from UFPel (Federal University of Pelotas) — is coordinated by the Health and Environment Surveillance Secretariat. Also involved in the study are UCPel (Catholic University of Pelotas), UFCSPA (Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre), Fiocruz (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz) and FGV (Fundação Getulio Vargas).

For the survey, during the month of March, home visits will be carried out to 33,250 people who had Covid in 133 Brazilian municipalities.

The research will use information from 250 citizens from each of the municipalities that have already taken part in the four previous rounds of scientific work, in 2020 and 2021.

Residents will be asked about vaccination, history of coronavirus infection, long-lasting symptoms and the effects of the disease on daily life.

All participants will be selected randomly, by draw. Only one person per household will respond to the questionnaire. Unlike the first stages of the research, in the current one there will not be any type of blood collection or other Covid test.

“Epicovid 2.0 is part of the work to strengthen Covid-19 monitoring, which the Ministry of Health has been carrying out since May 2023”, explains the Secretary of Health and Environmental Surveillance (SVSA), Ethel Maciel.

According to the secretary, the WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that 20% of people, regardless of the severity of the disease, develop post-Covid conditions. In this sense, according to her, it is necessary to investigate data relating to Brazil to expand services, such as neurological care, physiotherapy and mental health assistance.

According to the secretary, there are currently no international and national estimates that provide information on the long-term impact of Covid-19. “This is a new disease. We are still learning about this virus, and ‘long Covid’ worries us a lot. From this population-based study, we will be able to obtain information, such as how many times the person has had the disease and whether the symptoms persist”, he explains.

“Epicovid 2.0 is a new phase of the study that began in 2020. Although we are no longer under a serious pandemic like we had, the virus continues in society and its effects on people’s lives as well. This is now our target, understanding the impact of the disease in the lives of Brazilian people and families”, explains epidemiologist Pedro Hallal, coordinator of the study.

Between 2020 and 2021, Epicovid-19 served to paint a picture of the pandemic that helped scientists and public health authorities better understand the effects and spread of the coronavirus in the country. Among the main conclusions, the study pointed out that the number of people infected at that time was three times greater than official data, with the poorest 20% having twice the risk of infection compared to the richest 20% of Brazilians.

Interviewers will be identified

The interviews will be carried out by the company LGA Assessoria Empresarial, hired by the Ministry of Health. The professionals will be identified with company badges and white vests with the brands of UFPel, FDMS (Fundação Delfim Mendes Silveira) and LGA. If there are any doubts, residents should contact their city hall.

The LGA company can also be contacted via telephones (31) 3335-1777 and (31) 99351-2430. Information about Epicovid 2.0 is also available on the websites of the Ministry of Health and the Federal University of Pelotas.