Living With Persistent Respiratory Symptoms of Long COVID: Qualitative Study Among Brazilian Adults 12 Months After Acute Infection

Santos, Giovana Alves; Laranjeira, Carlos; Carreira, Lígia; Baldissera, Vanessa Denardi Antoniassi; Tostes, Maria Fernanda do Prado; Meireles, Viviani Camboin; Ageno, Rosella Santoro; Salci, Maria Aparecida

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/14312

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Authors

Santos, Giovana Alves

Laranjeira, Carlos

Carreira, Lígia

Baldissera, Vanessa Denardi Antoniassi

Tostes, Maria Fernanda do Prado

Meireles, Viviani Camboin

Ageno, Rosella Santoro

Salci, Maria Aparecida

Abstract(s)

Introduction: The majority of those infected with COVID‐19 undergo a brief duration of clinical illness. In certain instances,symptoms endure for months or years after the initial viral exposure—a condition characterized as Long COVID (LC). Theexperience of this illness remains largely unexplored as it has only recently surfaced. This study aims to understand therepercussions of persistent respiratory post‐COVID symptoms in Brazilian adults 12 months after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.Methods: A constructivist grounded theory study was employed. Data were collected through individual interviews with adultswith persistent respiratory symptoms of Long COVID in Brazil. Data collection took place between September 2023 andFebruary 2024. Data analysis was performed on a constant comparative basis and concurrent with data collection to understandthe findings.Results: Twenty‐four individuals (12 females, 12 males) with a median age of 43.29 ± 9.09 years participated. The data analysisgenerated a central category—living with the long‐term effects of COVID‐19: breathlessness pervades everything—aroundwhich three categories emerged: (1) imbalance between life before and after being infected by COVID‐19; (2) living with acutepost‐COVID respiratory symptoms; and (3) struggling with persistent post‐COVID respiratory symptoms.Conclusion: Our analysis of the perceived needs of individuals with Long COVID underscores the urgent necessity forlegislative reform to acknowledge LC as a disability that requires clear diagnostic criteria. Approaches to treatment andrehabilitation are required to evaluate the extent to which functioning and disability improve. Lastly, this study highlights thecomplex problems encountered by individuals with Long COVID, including employment uncertainties, everyday tasks andsocial relationships.

Keywords

Adult Grounded theory Nursing care Post‐acute COVID‐19 syndrome

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/14312

Citation

Santos GA, Laranjeira C, Carreira L, Baldissera VDA, Tostes MFDP, Meireles VC, Ageno RS, Salci MA. Living With Persistent Respiratory Symptoms of Long COVID: Qualitative Study Among Brazilian Adults 12 Months After Acute Infection. Health Expect. 2025 Oct;28(5):e70409. doi: 10.1111/hex.70409. PMID: 40986436; PMCID: PMC12456354.