[Death from post-COVID-19 conditions in Brazil: a descriptive study, 2020-2023]

Little is known about the magnitude of deaths and which comorbidities may contribute to the occurrence of outcomes among individuals with post-COVID conditions. This study aimed to identify deaths due to post-COVID conditions in Brazil from 2020 to 2023 and describe the consequential and contributing causes. A descriptive study was conducted using ICD-10 codes B94.8 and U09.9. Between 2020 and 2023, Brazil reported 6,911,833 deaths. Of these, 5,017 (0.07%) were related to post-COVID conditions. The peak occurred in the 2nd quarter of 2021, with an average decline of 28% in the subsequent quarters. The highest mortality rate was in the Central-West region, except in 2020, when the highest rate was in the North region. Tocantins had the highest annual mortality rates, except in 2021, when Espírito Santo recorded the highest number. Most deaths occurred among white individuals, the elderly, and those with higher education levels. The most common consequential causes were septicemia (42.9%) and respiratory events (52.8%). Among the contributing causes, diabetes mellitus was notable (20.5%). The study reveals a significant number of deaths due to post-COVID-19 conditions in Brazil, highlighting regional variations and marked sociodemographic differences.