Progressive improvement in quality of life was observed throughout the follow-up period in post-COVID-19 patients, with differences between men and women in the areas of pain, vitality, mental health, general health status, and social aspects.
Women with post-COVID-19 condition showed statistically significant improvements in the pain domain between the 2nd and 4th month of follow-up.
Women showed significant improvements in vitality between the 4th and 6th month of post-COVID-19 follow-up.
Women demonstrated significant improvements in mental health between the 2nd and 6th month of post-COVID-19 follow-up.
Men showed better recovery in overall health status at 2 and 4 months post-COVID-19.
Men showed better recovery in social aspects of quality of life at 2 and 6 months post-COVID-19.
A longitudinal study design was used to track quality of life and social determinants of health in 179 post-COVID-19 patients over six months.
This research followed 179 people in northeastern Brazil (Ceará and Maranhão states) for six months after they were diagnosed with COVID-19, tracking how their quality of life changed over time and whether social factors played a role. Each month, participants answered questions through a phone app about their health and well-being, using a well-established survey called the SF-36 that measures things like pain, energy, mental health, and social functioning. The study found that quality of life generally improved progressively over the six-month period for post-COVID-19 patients, but the pattern of recovery differed between men and women. Women experienced notable improvements specifically in pain (between months 2 and 4), vitality or energy levels (between months 4 and 6), and mental health (between months 2 and 6). Men, on the other hand, showed more improvement in their general sense of overall health (at months 2 and 4) and in social aspects of life—such as how their health affected their social activities—between months 2 and 6. These differences suggest that the trajectory and areas of recovery from COVID-19 may follow distinct patterns depending on sex. This research suggests that recovery from COVID-19 is not uniform across all people and that gender may shape which aspects of health and well-being recover first or most noticeably. Understanding these differences could help healthcare providers and public health workers better tailor support and monitoring programs for people recovering from COVID-19, particularly by paying attention to mental health and social well-being alongside physical recovery.
Florencio S, Lima F, Lima G, Fontenele M, Pascoal L, Sandoval L, et al.. (2026). Post-COVID-19 social determinants of health and quality of life: a longitudinal study.. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2025-0565en