Public perception of the persistence of COVID-19 symptoms and potential strategies to address Long COVID

Abstract

Long COVID is characterized by symptoms that persist for more than 12 weeks after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study investigated public perceptions of long COVID in Brazil. Interviews were conducted with 1,295 participants selected based on variable quotas, according to the population distribution in each region of the country, using data from the 2021 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) and the 2010 IBGE Census. The findings revealed that 40.6% reported having had COVID-19 between 2020 and 2023, with 33.4% experiencing persistent symptoms for at least three months. The most common symptoms included fatigue (44.6%), headache (43.7%), hair loss (40.9%), memory loss (34.7%), and difficulty concentrating (28.7%). The study highlights that Brazilians are unaware of the correlation between these symptoms and the acute phase of the disease. By increasing public awareness of the issue, society becomes more capable of demanding better healthcare services for long COVID and insisting on effective policies. The importance of social education on this topic is fundamental to improving the healthcare system.