Common mental disorders in Primary Health Care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic period: a cross-sectional study in the Northern health macro-region of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, 2021.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the prevalence of symptoms of common mental disorders (CMDs) in Primary Health Care professionals between August-October/2021. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional study conducted with health professionals in the Northern health macro-region of Minas Gerais state; snowball sampling was used; the dependent variable, CMDs, was evaluated using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20); Poisson regression was used to perform the statistical analysis. RESULTS: a total of 702 health professionals took part in the study; the prevalence of CDMs was 43.2%. It was higher in those with previous [prevalence ratios (PR) = 2.42; 95%CI 1.43;4.08] and current (PR = 1.54; 95%CI 1.25;1.89) symptoms of mental disorders, overwork during the pandemic (PR = 1.42; 95%CI 1.16;1.73), previous symptoms of anxiety (PR = 1.27; 95%CI 1.01;1.61), depression (PR = 1.27; 95%CI 1.06;1.52) and other mental disorders (PR = 1.20; 95%CI 1.01;1.43). CONCLUSION: there was an association between CDMs and presenting previous and current symptoms of mental disorders and work overload during the covid-19 pandemic.

Public oral health services: impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The aim of this study was to describe the oral health services offered by the Unified Health System in the northern macro-region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was an observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study. Data collection took place between August and September 2020 through the completion of online questionnaires by oral health managers in the northern municipalities of Minas Gerais and by consultation of information available in the Special Epidemiological Bulletin Coronavirus North Macro-region n° 14. After collection, data were transferred to SPSS® (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows, version 24.0). Analyses were performed using frequency, mean, standard deviation and percentages. It was found that all included municipalities suspended elective treatments and maintained emergency dental care at all levels of care. In 62.5% of municipalities there were oral health professionals contaminated by COVID-19. Oral health teams implemented specific interventions to address the pandemic,with the most frequent being tele-orientation (74.7%), use of sanitary barriers (72%), and telemonitoring (68%). At the beginning of the pandemic, 62.5% of municipalities lacked personal protective equipment. Comsidering these results, it was found that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the supply of dental services in northern Minas Gerais due to the suspension of elective care, contamination of professionals, lack of personal protective equipment, and development of new interventions. Thus, oral health teams had to adapt to new contexts of health interventionsto face COVID-19 and maintain dental care services.

Cancer diagnosis in Brazil in the COVID-19 era.

The comprehensive care and treatment for cancer patients in Brazil, regulated by the National Cancer Prevention and Control Policy, is provided by Brazilian Unified Healthcare System (SUS) in certified health institution. Due the COVID-19 pandemic, several restrictive measures have been implemented by the State federation's governments, and cancer diagnosis reference centers were also impacted by these measures. Thus, this study aimed to compare SUS-oriented cancer diagnosis in Brazil before and during the pandemic so far. The average number of cancer diagnoses has dropped considerably in all Brazilian Regions since the pandemic period started. The number of new cancer cases has plunged in all regions, ranged from -24.3% in the North to -42.7% in Northeast region. The overall Brazilian average deficit reached 35.5%, corresponding to about 15,000 undiagnosed cases of cancer monthly. The pandemic period has dramatically reduced the diagnosis of new cases of cancer in Brazil, since consultations in public health services were compromised by restrictive measures. Therefore, effective measures must be urgently put in action in order to minimize the damage, and consequently, the negative health impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the care of cancer patients.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Oral Repercussions and its Possible Impact on Oral Health

Many viral infections cause oral manifestations, including disorders in odontogenesis, resulting in dental malformations. In this review, based on current knowledge, we will discuss the likely dental and oral consequences of COVID-19. In this article, we review currently available data associated with vertical transmission of COVID-19 and odontogenesis, oral manifestations, and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on a diagnosis of oral diseases. Owing to the severity of the pandemic, the population's anxiety and fear of becoming infected with COVID-19 may underestimate the signs and symptoms of serious illnesses, besides discourage patients from seeking health, medical or dental services to determine the diagnosis of oral lesions. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic could be an additional and aggravating factor for the delay of serious illness diagnosis, such as oral squamous cell carcinoma resulting in higher morbidity and worse prognosis. Several changes and oral lesions have been described as oral manifestations of COVID-19, such as dysgeusia, oral ulcers, petechiae, reddish macules, desquamative gingivitis, among others. Besides, it can cause major systemic changes and predispose opportunistic infections. As with other viral infections, oral manifestations, including dental anomalies, can occur as a direct result of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, further studies are needed to guide and clarify possible oral changes.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Oral Repercussions and its Possible Impact on Oral Health

Many viral infections cause oral manifestations, including disorders in odontogenesis, resulting in dental malformations. In this review, based on current knowledge, we will discuss the likely dental and oral consequences of COVID-19. In this article, we review currently available data associated with vertical transmission of COVID-19 and odontogenesis, oral manifestations, and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on a diagnosis of oral diseases. Owing to the severity of the pandemic, the population's anxiety and fear of becoming infected with COVID-19 may underestimate the signs and symptoms of serious illnesses, besides discourage patients from seeking health, medical or dental services to determine the diagnosis of oral lesions. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic could be an additional and aggravating factor for the delay of serious illness diagnosis, such as oral squamous cell carcinoma resulting in higher morbidity and worse prognosis. Several changes and oral lesions have been described as oral manifestations of COVID-19, such as dysgeusia, oral ulcers, petechiae, reddish macules, desquamative gingivitis, among others. Besides, it can cause major systemic changes and predispose opportunistic infections. As with other viral infections, oral manifestations, including dental anomalies, can occur as a direct result of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, further studies are needed to guide and clarify possible oral changes.

Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 on the diagnoses of Hansen's disease in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has limited the access of patients with Hansen's disease (HD) to care due to changes in routine health services. METHODS: To ascertain this, we compared the number of HD cases diagnosed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: The decrease in HD cases in Brazil reached 18,223 (-48.4%), corresponding to an average reduction of 1,518 cases per month during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Therefore, effective measures should be implemented to minimize the damage and the consequent negative health impact of COVID-19 on the care of HD patients.