Seroprevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in a Random Sample of Inhabitants of the Katowice Region, Poland

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 6; p. 3188
• Main Authors: Zejda, Jan E., Brożek, Grzegorz M., Kowalska, Małgorzata, Barański, Kamil, Kaleta-Pilarska, Angelina, Nowakowski, Artur, Xia, Yuchen, Buszman, Paweł
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 19.03.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Antibodies, Viral; Chronic illnesses; COVID-19; Europe; Humans; Immunoglobulin M; Laboratories; Poland - epidemiology; SARS-CoV-2; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Viral infections; Poland; Europe; IgG/IgM seroprevalence; SARS-CoV-2; risk factors; general population; representative sample
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18063188

Lack of knowledge around seroprevalence levels of COVID-19 in Poland was the reason for the implementation of a seroepidemiological study in the Katowice Region (2,100,000 inhabitants). In October–November 2020, a questionnaire examination and measurement of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies were performed in a random sample of the general population (n = 1167). The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies and to assess their host-related correlates. The prevalence of IgG seropositivity was 11.4% (95% CI: 9.5–13.2%) and IgM seropositivity was 4.6% (95% CI: 3.5–5.8%). Diagnosis of COVID-19 was found in 4.8% of subjects. A positive IgG test was statistically significantly associated with age (inverse relationship), a person’s contact with a COVID-19 patient, quarantine, and two symptoms in the past: fever and loss of smell/taste. Positive IgG tests were less prevalent in subjects who had diagnoses of arterial hypertension, diabetes, or rheumatologic disorders. IgM test positivity was associated with quarantine and loss of smell/taste only with no effect of chronic diseases found. In Poland, in the period October–November 2020, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was larger than earlier estimates obtained in other European countries, probably reflecting the measurements obtained during the “second wave” of the epidemic.