Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35490440›Full record

ArticlePublic health2022

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and determinants of infection in young adults: a population-based seroepidemiological study.

I Backhaus, D Hermsen, J Timm, F Boege, N Lübke, T Degode, K Göbels, N Dragano

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Public health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 31% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

I BackhausInstitute of Medical Sociology, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. Electronic address: Insalinnea.backhaus@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.
D HermsenCentral Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany.
J TimmInstitute of Virology, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany.
F BoegeCentral Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany.
N LübkeInstitute of Virology, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany.
T DegodePublic Health Authority, Düsseldorf, Germany.
K GöbelsPublic Health Authority, Düsseldorf, Germany.
N DraganoInstitute of Medical Sociology, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Düsseldorf University Hospital · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesMost SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence studies have focussed on adults and high-risk populations, and little is known about young adults. The objective of the present study was to provide evidence on the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among young adults in Germany and to explore determinants associated with seropositivity in general and, specifically, with previously undetected infections. STUDY

designThis was a population-based SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence study.

methodsIn November 2020, a population-based study on SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in young adults (aged 18-30 years) was conducted in a large German city. Serum samples were obtained to analyse the SARS-CoV-2 antibody status using the Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay. Descriptive statistics and odds ratios (ORs) of seropositivity and of previously undetected infections in relation to different determinants were calculated.

resultsAmong 2186 participants, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 72 individuals, equalling a test performance-adjusted seroprevalence of 3.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.4-4.0). Based on reported COVID-19 cases to the public health authority, a moderate underascertainment rate of 1.7 was calculated. Seropositivity was higher among individuals who sought COVID-19-related information from social media (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.2-3.1), and undetected COVID-19 infections were more prevalent among men and those not adhering to social distancing.

conclusionsThe results show a substantial underascertainment of SARS-CoV-2 infections among young adults and indicate that seroprevalence is likely to be much higher than the reported COVID-19 prevalence based on confirmed COVID-19 cases in Germany. Preventive efforts should consider the heterogeneity of risk profiles among the young adult population.

Indexed as

COVID-19SARS-CoV-2Antibodies, ViralHumansImmunoglobulin GMaleSeroepidemiologic StudiesYoung AdultAntibodies, ViralImmunoglobulin GCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2 antibodiesSeroprevalenceYoung adults

Identifiers

PMID35490440
PMCPMC8940565
OpenAlexW4220691025

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.