Association between food insecurity and long COVID in adults from southern Brazil: findings of the PAMPA cohort

Abstract

Background Social and economic factors, such as food insecurity, contribute to long coronavirus disease (COVID). During the pandemic, a significant rise in food insecurity was observed, both in Brazil and worldwide. We aimed to investigate the association between food insecurity and long COVID in Brazilian adults. Methods Cross-sectional study nested within the Prospective study About Mental and Physical Health in Adults (PAMPA) Cohort. Participants completed an online questionnaire in June 2022. We assessed food insecurity using the Brazilian Scale of Food Insecurity. Long COVID was defined as any post-coronavirus disease 2019 symptoms that persisted for at least 3 months after infection. Results A total of 956 participants were included (74.0% female, median age 36 (Interquartile Range [IQR] (29–45.7). The prevalence of food insecurity was 29.4%, and 77.8% had long COVID. Food insecurity was associated with an increased probability of long COVID (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–1.22). Participants in food insecurity situations had a higher likelihood of experiencing neurological (PR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10–1.28), pulmonary (PR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.17–1.52) and gastrointestinal (PR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.31–1.88) symptoms after infection. Conclusions Food insecurity was associated with long COVID. Governments must plan public policies to mitigate the effects of long COVID and food insecurity.