Seroprevalence of SARS Cov 2 Immunoglobulin among First Year Medical Students in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Odisha: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: COVID-19 caused by SARS coronavirus two has halted life across the globe since its emergence in December 2019. Most of the infected persons are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Serosurvey is vital for the estimation of the burden of infection. In this context, our study objective is to estimate the Seroprevalence of SARS CoV 2 IgG among the first-year medical students after the first wave in February 2021. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the first-year medical students of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. All the students were enrolled, and their data & serum sample was collected. Serum samples were tested for the presence of Anti-Spike IgG. Data were analyzed by using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The Seroprevalence of anti-SARS CoV 2 IgG was estimated to be 38.8 %. Most (82 %) of the students used the mask per recommendation. Use of mask, BMI, Contact history with COVID-19 patient, attending social gathering & previous COVID-19 were associated with Seropositivity. Regular mask use, BMI, and Previous COVID-19 were significant predictors for Seropositivity. Conclusion: The Seroprevalence of SARS Cov 2 after the first wave of the pandemic is less than 40 %. It calls for the proper implementation of a vaccination program with strict vigilance and surveillance to stop subsequent waves