Este estudo relata a experiência da Comissão Intersetorial de Monitoramento de Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos (Ilpi) no estado da Bahia, no enfrentamento da covid-19, composta por representantes das Secretarias Estaduais de Saúde e de Justiça, Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento Social e da Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA). São detalhados os mecanismos de identificação das Ilpi, o monitoramento das instituições e outras atividades desenvolvidas, além de indicadores sumários de morbimortalidade. Entre abril e outubro de 2020, foram mapeadas e monitoradas duzentas Ilpi no estado da Bahia, com 5.154 idosos residentes. Nesse período, ocorreram 1.033 casos confirmados de covid-19 em idosos (20% dos idosos residentes), com taxa de mortalidade igual a 2,3% e taxa de letalidade igual a 11,2%. Esses indicadores de morbimortalidade, com valores aquém dos descritos em outras regiões do mundo, podem ser atribuídos, entre outros fatores, ao benefício das intervenções sociossanitárias promovidas pela comissão intersetorial com as Ilpi no estado da Bahia.

RESUMO Objetivo Descrever as estratégias de enfrentamento à COVID-19 em Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos no estado da Bahia. Metodologia Trata-se de uma pesquisa retrospectiva, por meio de uma análise documental do acervo produzido pela Comissão Intersetorial de Monitoramento de Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos no Estado da Bahia, no período de abril/2020 a junho/2021. O tratamento dos dados baseou-se na análise de conteúdo de Bardin. Resultados Emergiram duas categorias temáticas: Articulação em rede Intersetorial e telemonitoramento de instituições de longa permanência para idosos. Conclusão Concluiu-se que o conjunto de ações de articulação em rede intersetorial e telemonitoramento realizadas pela Comissão Intersetorial de Monitoramento de Longa Permanência foram estratégias fundamentais para mitigar o impacto da COVID-19 nas instituições. Destaca-se a necessidade de implementação de políticas públicas efetivas de apoio às instituições de longa permanência para idosos, repensando criticamente sobre a tipologia destes equipamentos.

OBJECTIVE: To describe health care strategies for older people living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in Bahia state, Brazil. METHODS: This is an ecological study involving LTCFs identified in Bahia state, which were invited to participate in a survey conducted between April and June 2021. The variables of interest were LTCF characteristics, health care strategies, visits received from national public health system (SUS, in Portuguese) teams, and health care actions taken by SUS. A comparative analysis was performed between LTCFs located in the East macro-region and other parts of the state, in general and also stratified by funding type (private and non-private). RESULTS: The sample consisted of 177 LTCFs, more than half of them were located in the East macro-region, seat of the state capital. Most facilities declared themselves as non-private (68%). Less than one-third of the LTCFs had their own health teams. Although 67% of LTCFs reported some health care provided by SUS, only 49% reported clinical consultations, with even lower percentages for other SUS actions, except for vaccination (91%). The East macro-region had a lower percentage of LTCFs accompanied by a SUS team, and the highest percentage of LTCFs with supplementary health insurance. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the limited access of LTCF residents to essential health services, due to a general neglect of this population by public health care providers. The inadequacy of public policies to support LTCFs has important consequences for the quality of care offered to residents.

OBJECTIVE: To describe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) morbidity and mortality in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in the state of Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: This is an ecological study involving identified and active LTCFs in Bahia, monitored by the Intersectoral Monitoring Commission of LTCFs. Data analysis included COVID-19 incidence among older residents and workers and COVID-19 hospitalization, fatality, and mortality rates among older residents. In addition to a global analysis of data from Bahia, a stratified analysis compared (i) the East macroregion with the rest of Bahia, and (ii) private LTCFs with philanthropic ones. RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 175 LTCFs, more than half located in the East macroregion (n = 99). Most facilities declared themselves as philanthropic (n = 94) or private (n = 59). From April/2020 to June/2021, COVID-19 incidence was 30.71% among residents and 19.86% among LTCF workers. Considering older residents, mortality was 3.57% and fatality was 11.63%. Incidence was lower in the East macroregion, for older residents (relative risk [RR] = 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68–0.87) and LTCF workers (RR = 0.70; 95%CI 0.59–0.83). The hospitalization rate due to COVID-19 was 19.97%, being higher in private LTCFs (RR = 1.61; 95%CI 1.30–2.00). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in LTCFs in Bahia were consistent with the wide ranges described in the literature, although case fatality was lower than expected. This demonstrates the importance of strategies to coordinate, identify, assess, and target support for LTCFs, highlighting the need for stronger public policies.