Seroprevalence Survey of Anti-Sars-CoV-2 Antibodies in a Population of Emilia-Romagna Region, Northern Italy

Bibliographic Data

ID15465612
AuthorsStefania Paduano (0000-0003-3640-9177, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, corresponding author), Pasquale Galante (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Nausicaa Berselli (0000-0001-8915-5479, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Luca Ugolotti (0000-0002-0698-5096, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Alberto Modenese (0000-0002-0850-5615, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Alessandro Poggi (0000-0002-1860-430X, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Marcella Malavolti (0000-0002-1719-7204, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Sara Turchi (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Isabella Marchesi (0000-0002-0905-5783, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Roberto Vivoli, Paola Perlini, Rossana Bellucci, Fabriziomaria Gobba (0000-0002-1267-1632, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Marco Vinceti (0000-0002-0551-2473, Boston University), Tommaso Filippini (0000-0003-2100-0344, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Annalisa Bargellini (0000-0002-7562-1472, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue13
Pages7882-7882
Publication date2022-06-27
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19137882
PMID35805539
OpenAlexW4283660360
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited7

Italy was the first Western European country to be severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Variations in seroprevalence rates were reported according to geographical and temporal differences of previous surveys, as well as depending on demographic and occupational factors. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a population of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy after the first wave in the period from 26 September 2020−26 March 2021. We included 5128 subjects who voluntarily underwent serological tests to determine anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity, including both self-referred individuals (24.2%) and workers adhering to company screening programs (76.8%). Overall, seroprevalence was 11.3%, higher in self-referred (13.8%) than employed-referred (10.5%) individuals. A slightly higher seroprevalence emerged in women compared to men (12.3% and 10.7%), as well as in the extreme age categories (18.6% for 60−69 years, 18.0% for ≥70 years, and 17.1% for <20 years compared to 7.6% for 20−39 years). Healthcare professionals showed the highest prevalence of seropositivity (22.9%), followed by workers in direct contact with customers, such as the communication, finance, and tourism sectors (15.7%). Overall subgroups seroprevalence increased compared to the first wave data but the trends agreed between the first and subsequent waves, except for an increase in the younger age group and in the sector in direct contact with customers. Among the occupational categories, our study confirms that healthcare workers and workers in the sports sector were at high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2

Antibody · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Cross-sectional study · Disease · Environmental health · Geography · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Pandemic · Population · Serology · Seroprevalence · COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies · COVID-19 epidemiological studies · Demography · Medicine · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research · Immunology · Internal Medicine

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access