Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Service and Care for Smokers in the SUS

Abstract

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the smoker treatment service was impacted. This article evaluated the impact of the pandemic on the service in the SUS. This is an ecological descriptive observational study using the National Tobacco Control Program (PNCT) database for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021, from five states (PA, PB, GO, RJ and RS) for the second four months. Relative differences were estimated in the number of units that offered the service and in the number of consultations for clinical evaluation, first and fourth sessions. For the years 2019 and 2020, there was a percentage difference of -51.9% in the number of units that offered the service in all states studied. For the years 2019 and 2021, the relative difference for the health units was -20.96% and, for the clinical evaluation, the first and fourth sessions were: -54.19%, -55.07% and -61 .31%, respectively. These differences were greater for the capitals when compared to the other municipalities. Despite the negative impact, especially in the first year of the pandemic, the study showed that the services did not interrupt their activities and showed some recovery in 2021. It was also important to note that smokers, despite the recommendations, did not stop seeking treatment.