Healthcare gaps and inequities following hospitalisation for COVID-19 in Brazil's universal healthcare system: a patient-engaged survey of Long COVID healthcare needs, use and barriers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Long COVID (LC) is an infection-associated chronic condition (IACC) that tends to be neglected by healthcare systems. Studies of post-COVID healthcare utilisation find elevated levels of use but have mainly been conducted in high-income settings. In the context of Brazil's universal health system (SUS), our patient-engaged study aimed to map healthcare needs, use, and access barriers related to LC up to 24 months following COVID-19 hospitalisation, in the interest of informing health system planning for an equitable LC response.

Methods

A cohort survey included a probabilistic sample of hospitalised COVID-19-confirmed individuals aged ≥ 18, who had been discharged from public hospitals in Rio de Janeiro between December 2020 and November 2022. Socio-demographic an

SUBMITTER: Portela MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12522782 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature