RESUMEN
Background: Persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at high?risk for COVID?19 infection and are a priority group for vaccination. Objectives: The objective of this study is to estimate the seroconversion and determine the side effects after COVID?19 vaccination among persons with T2DM in urban, rural, and tribal areas in Kerala. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in urban, rural, and tribal field practice areas of a medical college in Central Kerala, among 396 persons with T2DM. The participants were selected by simple random sampling from the 200–250 diabetic patients visiting each health center. Qualitative and quantitative estimation of antibodies were done by WANTAI Ab enzyme?linked immunosorbent assay kit and Abbott SARS COV?2 IgG Quantitative assay, respectively. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 59.40 ± 12.25 years. A majority (65.5%) had received both doses of vaccine. About half (51.5%) experienced side effects after vaccination. Antibodies (IgG or IgM) were detected in 93.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 90.2, 95.5) of participants. Those with a duration of diabetes ?5 years, with a single dose of vaccine, were five times (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] – 5.23,95% CI 1.86, 14.66) and four times (aOR – 4.11, 95% CI 1.66, 10.13) more likely, respectively, to be seronegative. Those who took medication for diabetes were protected against a no antibody (aOR – 0.05, 95% CI 0.02, 0.148) response. The median antibody titer in a subset (150) of participants was 365.2 (90–1587) AU/ml. Past COVID infection was an independent determinant of high IgG titers (aOR – 4.95, 95% CI 1.50, 16.36). Conclusion: Reinforcing the importance of vaccination particularly among those with longer duration of diabetes is imperative.
RESUMEN
Background: The age group of 5–17 years belongs to the vulnerable segment of the population for COVID?19 infection in India. Seroprevalence in this population can therefore allow inferences to be made about the extent of infection. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the seroprevalence and to determine the factors associated with COVID?19 antibody among children aged 5–17 years in an urban and rural area of Kochi, Kerala. Methods: A community?based cross?sectional study was undertaken in the urban and rural field practice areas of the community medicine department in a medical college, Kochi. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information about sociodemographic data, history related to COVID?19, and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibody test result. Blood samples were collected and tested for the presence of COVID?19 antibodies using the Wantai test kit after attaining informed assent from the parent/guardian. Results: The seroprevalence of the COVID?19 antibody was 48.3% among participants. The seroprevalence of COVID?19 antibody was higher among children of mothers with skilled/unskilled occupation, residents of rural area, above poverty line category, those with a history of COVID?19, and those who had a history of contact with COVID?19?positive patients. Conclusion: Half of the study population were COVID antibody positive, and the rest were at risk of infection. Therefore, adherence to COVID?19 guidelines is essential to control further spread of infection among children.