RESUMEN
Pre-vaccine SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence data from Germany are scarce outside hotspots, and socioeconomic disparities remained largely unexplored. The nationwide representative RKI-SOEP study (15,122 participants, 18-99 years, 54% women) investigated seroprevalence and testing in a supplementary wave of the Socio-Economic-Panel conducted predominantly in October-November 2020. Self-collected oral-nasal swabs were PCR-positive in 0.4% and Euroimmun anti-SARS-CoV-2-S1-IgG ELISA from dry-capillary-blood antibody-positive in 1.3% (95% CI 0.9-1.7%, population-weighted, corrected for sensitivity = 0.811, specificity = 0.997). Seroprevalence was 1.7% (95% CI 1.2-2.3%) when additionally correcting for antibody decay. Overall infection prevalence including self-reports was 2.1%. We estimate 45% (95% CI 21-60%) undetected cases and lower detection in socioeconomically deprived districts. Prior SARS-CoV-2 testing was reported by 18% from the lower educational group vs. 25% and 26% from the medium and high educational group (p < 0.001, global test over three categories). Symptom-triggered test frequency was similar across educational groups. Routine testing was more common in low-educated adults, whereas travel-related testing and testing after contact with infected persons was more common in highly educated groups. This countrywide very low pre-vaccine seroprevalence in Germany at the end of 2020 can serve to evaluate the containment strategy. Our findings on social disparities indicate improvement potential in pandemic planning for people in socially disadvantaged circumstances.
Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , Adulto , Femenino , Masculino , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , Prueba de COVID-19 , Viaje , COVID-19/diagnóstico , COVID-19/epidemiología , Enfermedad Relacionada con los Viajes , Anticuerpos Antivirales , Inmunoglobulina GRESUMEN
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has spread rapidly across Germany. Infections are likely to be under-recorded in the notification data from local health authorities on laboratory-confirmed cases since SARS-CoV-2 infections can proceed with few symptoms and then often remain undetected. Seroepidemiological studies allow the estimation of the proportion in the population that has been infected with SARS-CoV-2 (seroprevalence) as well as the extent of undetected infections. The 'CORONA-MONITORING bundesweit' study (RKI-SOEP study) collects biospecimens and interview data in a nationwide population sample drawn from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). Participants are sent materials to self-collect a dry blood sample of capillary blood from their finger and a swab sample from their mouth and nose, as well as a questionnaire. The samples returned are tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and SARS-CoV-2 RNA to identify past or present infections. The methods applied enable the identification of SARS-CoV-2 infections, including those that previously went undetected. In addition, by linking the data collected with available SOEP data, the study has the potential to investigate social and health-related differences in infection status. Thus, the study contributes to an improved understanding of the extent of the epidemic in Germany, as well as identification of target groups for infection protection.
RESUMEN
Die Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) hat im Frühjahr 2020 Richtlinien für Bevölkerungsstichproben veröffentlicht, die Basisdaten für gesundheitspolitische Entscheidungen im Pandemiefall liefern können. Diese Richtlinien umzusetzen ist keineswegs trivial. In diesem Beitrag schildern wir die Herausforderungen einer entsprechenden statistischen Erfassung der Corona Pandemie. Hierbei gehen wir im ersten Teil auf die Erfassung der Dunkelziffer bei der Meldung von Corona Infektionen, die Messung von Krankheitsverläufen im außerklinischen Bereich, die Messung von Risikomerkmalen sowie die Erfassung von zeitlichen und regionalen Veränderungen der Pandemie-Intensität ein. Wir diskutieren verschiedene Möglichkeiten, aber auch praktische Grenzen der Survey-Statistik, den vielfältigen Herausforderungen durch eine geeignete Anlage der Stichprobe und des Survey-Designs zu begegnen. Ein zentraler Punkt ist die schwierige Koppelung medizinischer Tests mit bevölkerungsrepräsentativen Umfragen, wobei bei einer personalisierten Rückmeldung der Testergebnisse das Statistik-Geheimnis eine besondere Herausforderung darstellt. Im zweiten Teil berichten wir wie eine der großen Wiederholungsbefragungen in Deutschland, das Sozio-oekonomische Panel (SOEP), für eine WHO-konforme Covid-19-Erhebung genutzt wird, die im Rahmen einer Kooperation des Robert-Koch-Instituts (RKI) mit dem SOEP als „RKI-SOEP Stichprobe“ im September 2020 gestartet wurde. Erste Ergebnisse zum Rücklauf dieser Studie, die ab Oktober 2021 mit einer zweiten Erhebungswelle bei denselben Personen fortgesetzt werden wird, werden vorgestellt. Es zeigt sich, dass knapp fünf Prozent der bereits in der Vergangenheit erfolgreich Befragten aufgrund der Anfrage zwei Tests zu machen die weitere Teilnahme an der SOEP-Studie verweigern. Berücksichtigt man alle in der Studie erhobenen Informationen (IgG-Antikörper-Tests, PCR-Tests und Fragebögen) ergibt eine erste Schätzung, dass sich bis November 2020 nur etwa zwei Prozent der in Privathaushalten lebenden Erwachsenen in Deutschland mit SARS-CoV‑2 infiziert hatten. Damit war die Zahl der Infektionen etwa doppelt so hoch wie die offiziell gemeldeten Infektionszahlen.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Evidence on the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and infections with SARS-CoV-2 is still limited as most of the available studies are ecological in nature. This is the first German nationwide study to examine differences in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections according to SEP at the individual level. METHODS: The 'CORONA-MONITORING bundesweit' (RKI-SOEP) study is a seroepidemiological survey among a dynamic cohort of the German adult population (n=15 122; October 2020-February 2021). Dried blood samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and oral-nasal swabs for viral RNA. SEP was measured by education and income. Robust logistic regression was used to examine adjusted associations of SARS-CoV-2 infections with SEP. RESULTS: 288 participants were seropositive, PCR positive or self-reported a previous laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The adjusted odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection were 1.87-fold (95% CI 1.06 to 3.29) higher among low-educated than highly educated adults. Evidence was weaker for income differences in infections (OR=1.65; 95% CI 0.89 to 3.05). Highly educated adults had lower odds of undetected infection. CONCLUSION: The results indicate an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in low-educated groups. To promote health equity in the pandemic and beyond, social determinants should be addressed more in infection protection and pandemic planning.