Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/1942/38852
Title: | Prevalence, incidence and longevity of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among primary healthcare providers in Belgium: a prospective cohort study with 12 months of follow-up | Authors: | Adriaenssens, Niels Scholtes, Beatrice BRUYNDONCKX, Robin Van Ngoc, Pauline Verbakel, Jan Y. De Sutter, An Heytens, Stefan Van den Bruel, Ann Desombere, Isabelle Van Damme, Pierre Goossens, Herman Buret, Laetitia Duysburgh, Els Coenen , Samuel |
Issue Date: | 2022 | Publisher: | BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP | Source: | BMJ Open, 12 (9) (Art N° e065897) | Abstract: | Objectives To estimate the prevalence, incidence and longevity of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among primary healthcare providers (PHCPs). Design Prospective cohort study with 12 months of follow-up. Setting Primary care in Belgium. Participants Any general practitioner (GP) working in primary care in Belgium and any other PHCP from the same GP practice who physically manages (examines, tests, treats) patients were eligible. A convenience sample of 3648 eligible PHCPs from 2001 GP practices registered for this study (3044 and 604 to start in December 2020 and January 2021, respectively). 3390 PHCPs (92,9%) participated in their first testing time point (2820 and 565, respectively) and 2557 PHCPs (70,1%) in the last testing time point (December 2021). Interventions Participants were asked to perform a rapid serological test targeting IgM and IgG against the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 and to complete an online questionnaire at each of maximum eight testing time points. Primary and secondary outcome measures The prevalence, incidence and longevity of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 both after natural infection and after vaccination. Results Among all participants, 67% were women and 77% GPs. Median age was 43 years. The seroprevalence in December 2020 (before vaccination availability) was 15.1% (95% CI 13.5% to 16.6%), increased to 84.2% (95% CI 82.9% to 85.5%) in March 2021 (after vaccination availability) and reached 93.9% (95% CI 92.9% to 94.9%) in December 2021 (during booster vaccination availability and fourth (delta variant dominant) COVID-19 wave). Among not (yet) vaccinated participants the first monthly incidence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was estimated to be 2.91% (95% CI 1.80% to 4.01%). The longevity of antibodies is higher in PHCPs with self-reported COVID-19 infection. Conclusions This study confirms that occupational health measures provided sufficient protection when managing patients. High uptake of vaccination resulted in high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in PHCPs in Belgium. Longevity of antibodies was supported by booster vaccination and virus circulation. | Notes: | Coenen, S (corresponding author), Univ Antwerp, Fac Med & Hlth Sci, Ctr Gen Practice, Family Med & Populat Hlth, Antwerp, Belgium.; Coenen, S (corresponding author), Univ Antwerp, Vaccine & Infect Dis Inst, Lab Med Microbiol, Antwerp, Belgium. samuel.coenen@uantwerpen.be |
Keywords: | COVID-19;Epidemiology;GENERAL MEDICINE (see Internal Medicine);PRIMARY CARE;Adult;Belgium;Female;Follow-Up Studies;Health Personnel;Humans;Immunoglobulin G;Immunoglobulin M;Incidence;Male;Prevalence;Prospective Studies;Seroepidemiologic Studies;SARS-CoV-2 | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/38852 | ISSN: | 2044-6055 | e-ISSN: | 2044-6055 | DOI: | 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065897 | ISI #: | 000860227200033 | Rights: | Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Open access Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution | Validations: | ecoom 2023 |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
e065897.full.pdf | Published version | 2.11 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.