Igg seropositivity for sars-cov-2 and its predictors among healthcare workers of Eastern India

ABSTRACT

Aims & Objectives: The study aimed to find out IgG seropositivity for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its predictors among healthcare workers of a corona virus disease (COVID) dedicated tertiary care health facility of eastern India. Patients/Materials & Methods: It was a monocentric, observational study, cross-sectional in design conducted among healthcare workers of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India during the month of September, 2020. Serum IgG level was estimated using chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) platform named 'ADVIA Centaur COV2G' in which IgG level of 1.00 or higher indicated seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2. Data were analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) (version 22.0). Results: Among the 689 study subjects 13.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 11.1-16.2%)] were found to be IgG seropositive against SARS-CoV-2. The median IgG level in our study subjects was .03 with interquartile range (IQR) of .01-.08. Males were more likely to be IgG seropositive in comparison to females. Those who were nurses and working in intensive care units (ICUs) were least likely while those who were attendants and working in laboratories were most likely to be IgG seropositive. In univariate logistic regression analysis;gender, occupation, place of posting, use of full personal protective equipment (PPE), prior COVID-19 infection, influenza like illness (ILI), use of steam inhalation, consumption of azithromycin, zinc and vitamin C were the significant attributes affecting seropositivity for IgG against SARS-CoV-2. In multivariable logistic regression analysis;occupation, place of posting, prior COVID infection and ILI were significant determinants of seropositivity for IgG against SARS-CoV-2. Overall, the independent variables in the multivariable logistic regression model predicted 30.8% variability of the SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositivity of the healthcare workers with high predictive accuracy rate (88.1%). Discussion & Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositivity among the healthcare workers in the present study was high in comparison to all the prior studies conducted in western countries till date. Occupation, place of posting, prior COVID-19 infection and ILI were found to be significant influencers of IgG seropositivity against SARS-CoV-2 in our study subjects.