Inequalities in worsening work and income decrease/cessation in SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults and elderly people: the population-based SulCovid-19 study

Abstract Objective To evaluate inequalities in the worsening of work and income decrease/cessation among adults and elderly people with COVID-19 in the extreme south of Brazil. Methods This is a cross-sectional study based on the SulCovid-19 study carried out with adults and elderly people infected...

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Main Authors: Yohana Pereira Vieira, Lara dos Santos Camilo, Évelyn Sousa Araújo, José Drummond de Macedo Neto, Letícia Lima Junqueira, Karla Pereira Machado, Tatiane Nogueira Gonzalez, Rosália Garcia Neves, Suele Manjourany Silva Duro, Mirelle de Oliveira Saes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23185-2
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Summary:Abstract Objective To evaluate inequalities in the worsening of work and income decrease/cessation among adults and elderly people with COVID-19 in the extreme south of Brazil. Methods This is a cross-sectional study based on the SulCovid-19 study carried out with adults and elderly people infected with SARS CoV-2 from December/2020 to March/2021 in the municipality of Rio Grande, RS, Brazil. The outcomes were: “worsening of work” and “income decrease/cessation” following COVID-19. The independent variables were gender, skin color, income, education, health insurance, age, marital status, schooling, morbidities, hospitalization and long COVID. Results prevalence of worsening work was 33.7% (95%CI 31.8; 35.5), while prevalence of income decrease/cessation was 44.6% (95%CI 42.7; 46.6). Female individuals with income in dollars between US0.00 and US192.0 had 13.0% (95% CI 1.01; 1.27) and 22.0% (95% CI 1.02; 1.46) greater prevalence of losing work and were 22.0% (95% CI 1.12; 1.34) and 49.0% (95% CI 1.31; 1.70) more likely to suffer a decrease/cessation of their income. Individuals with long COVID had 46.0% greater prevalence (95% CI 1.27; 1.68) of worsening at work and 24.0% (95% CI 1.13; 1.37) greater prevalence of income decrease/cessation when compared to those without the disease. Individuals with 3 symptoms or more had 86.0% (95% CI 1.58; 2.20) greater prevalence of worsening work and 47.0% (95% CI 1.31; 1.65) greater prevalence of income decrease/cessation when compared to those without long COVID symptoms. Conclusions There was inequality in the worsening of work and income decrease/cessation for individuals infected with SARS CoV-2. Among these individuals, females, lower income, low education and greater long COVID severity were the most affected.
ISSN:1471-2458