Post-acute COVID and long-COVID among adults and older adults in the State of Paraná, Brazil: protocol for an ambispective cohort study

Abstract

IntroductionSince 2020, the world has been going through a viral pandemic with a high morbidity and mortality rate along with the potential to evolve from an acute infection to post-acute and long-COVID, which is still in the process of elucidation. Diagnostic and prognostic research is essential to understand the complexity of factors and contexts involving the illness’s process. This protocol introduces a study strategy to analyse predictors, sequelae, and repercussions of COVID-19 in adults and older adults with different disease severities in the State of Paraná, Brazil.Methods and analysisA mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. The quantitative data will be conducted by an ambispective cohort study, which will explore the manifestations of COVID-19 for 18 months, with nearly 3000 participants with confirmed diagnoses of COVID-19 (reverse transcription-PCR test) between March and December of 2020, retrieved from national disease reporting databases, over 18 years old, living in a Brazilian State (Paraná) and who survived the viral infection after being discharged from a health service. Data collection will be conducted through telephone interviews, at two different occasions: the first will be a recall 12 months after the acute phase as a retrospective follow-up, and the second will be another prospective interview, with data of the following 6 months. For the qualitative step, Grounded Theory will be used; participants will be selected from the cohort population. The first sample group will be composed of people who were discharged from the intensive care unit, and other sample groups will be composed according to theoretical saturation. The qualitative data will follow the temporal design and classification of the disease provided for in the cohort.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was granted by the State University of Maringá, under opinion number: 4 165 272 and CAAE: 34787020.0.0000.0104 on 21 July 2020, and Hospital do Trabalhador (Worker’s Hospital), which is accountable for the Health Department of the State of Paraná, under opinion number: 4 214 589 and CAAE: 34787020.0.3001.5225 on 15 August 2020. The participants will verbally consent to the research, their consent will be recorded, and the informed consent form will be sent by mail or email. Outcomes will be widely disseminated through peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference presentations, media and reports to related authorities.

Managing long COVID symptoms and accessing health services in Brazil: A grounded theory analysis

“…This study is part of a broader Brazilian project entitled “Longitudinal monitoring of adults and elderly people who were discharged from hospital due to COVID-19” to explore and analyze predictors, sequelae, and repercussions of COVID-19 in adults and elderly people who developed severe illness after hospital discharge [ 35 ].…”

Perceived quality of life and associated factors in long COVID syndrome among older Brazilians: A cross‐sectional study

“…This study is part of a multisite sequential explanatory mixed‐method study entitled “Longitudinal follow‐up of adults and elderly people who were discharged from hospital due to COVID‐19,” which aims to explore and analyse predictors, sequelae, repercussions, and consequences of COVID‐19 in adults and older people who developed the severe form of the disease after hospital discharge (Salci et al, 2022).…”

Conquistando um novo equilíbrio: Um estudo qualitativo de como a vida familiar foi afetada pela COVID-19

“…Este estudo faz parte de um projeto multicêntrico explicativo sequencial e de métodos mistos que recebeu financiamento federal (13) for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) foi usada para relatar este estudo qualitativo (14) .…”

“…Especificamente, os casos leves, atendidos em ambulatório, foram obtidos por meio do registro Notifica COVID Paraná. Já os casos moderados e graves, envolvendo pacientes internados em enfermaria ou UTI, foram extraídos do Sistema de Informação de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Influenza (SIVEP-Influenza) (13) .…”

“…As entrevistas foram realizadas por meio de ligações telefônicas gravadas. Isso porque os participantes eram de várias cidades do estado do Paraná selecionados a partir de um estudo de coorte de métodos mistos (13) . As entrevistas foram norteadas por um instrumento semiestruturado, previamente validado por dez especialistas com reconhecido perfil de ensino e pesquisa na área da saúde.…”