Factors affecting Brazilians’ self-rated health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

This is a cross-sectional study investigating the factors affecting brazilians’ self-rated health during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on data from the web-based behavior survey. Carried out from April 24 to May 24, 2020, the survey recruited participants by a chain sampling procedure. Its outcome was the worsening of self-rated health during the pandemic. Statistical analysis

was based on a hierarchical model of determination. Logistic regression mod- els were used to test the associations between sociodemographic characteristics,

pre-existing health conditions, lifestyle indicators and intensity of social re- straint measures, and biological and psychological issues during the pandemic.

From the total sample of 45,161 participants, 29.4% reported worsening of health state during this period. After adjusting for hierarchical distal factors, the health problems mostly associated with worsening health state were: bad

self-rated health (adjusted OR = 4.35, p < 0.001), health care seeking for men- tal health problem (adjusted OR = 3.95, p < 0.001), and for COVID-19 (ad- justed OR = 3.60, p < 0.001). People who experienced sleep problems, worsen- ing of back pain, depression and at least one flu symptom during the pandemic

were twice as likely to report worsening of health status. Sedentary and eat- ing behaviors and adherence to social distancing measures showed significant

correlation with the outcome. There exists a relation between social, biologi- cal, and psychological factors, mediated by lifestyles and variables pertaining

to confinement. Altogether, these factors have negatively affected self-rated health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.