SARS-CoV-2 in eight municipalities of the Colombian tropics: high immunity, clinical and sociodemographic outcomes

Background: Serological evaluation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an alternative that allows us to determine the prevalence and dynamics of this infection in populations. The goal of this study was to determine the clinical and sociodemographic dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a region of the Colombian Caribbean. Methods: Between July and November 2020, a cross-sectional observational study was carried out in Córdoba, located in northeast Colombia in the Caribbean area. Eight municipalities with the largest populations were chosen and 2564 blood samples were taken. A commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used with the recombinant protein antigen N of SARS-CoV-2. The people included in the study were asked for sociodemographic and clinical data, which were analysed by statistical methods. Results: A seroprevalence of 40.8% was obtained for SARS-CoV-2 in the Córdoba region. In the bivariate analysis, no differences were observed in seropositivity against SARS-CoV-2 for gender or age range (p>0.05). Higher seropositivity was found in low socio-economic status and symptomatic patients (p<0.0001). A total of 30.7% of the asymptomatic patients were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2, which could be linked to the spread of this infection. In the multivariate analysis, seroconversion was related to poverty and clinical manifestations such as anosmia and ageusia (p<0.05). Conclusions: The high seropositivity in Córdoba is due to widespread SARS-CoV-2 in this population. The relationship between seropositivity and socio-economic status suggests a higher exposure risk to the virus caused by informal economic activities in low-income groups. Clinical manifestations such as anosmia and ageusia could be clinical predictors of infection by the new emergent coronavirus.

• Autores: Garay Montalvo, Evelin; Serrano Coll, Héctor Alejandro; Rivero, Ricardo; Gastelbondo Pastrana, Bertha Irina; Faccini Martínez, Álvaro Adolfo; Berrocal, José; Pérez, Alejandra; Badillo, María; Martínez Bravo, Caty Milena; Botero, Yesica; Arrieta Bernate, Germán Javier; Calderón Rangel, Alfonso; Galeano Anaya, Ketty Esther; López Mejía, Yesica Paola; Miranda Regino, Jorge Luis; Guzmán Terán, Camilo Antonio; Contreras Cogollo, Veronica; Arosemena, Alejandra; Contreras, Héctor; Brango Tarra, Eimi Johana; Oviedo Pastrana, Misael Enrique; Mattar Velilla, Ameth Salim
• Tipo de recurso: Article of investigation
• Fecha de publicación: 2021
• Institución: Corporación Universitaria del Caribe - CECAR
• Repositorio: Repositorio Digital CECAR
• Idioma: eng
• OAI Identifier: oai:repositorio.cecar.edu.co:cecar/10786
• Acceso en línea: https://repositorio.cecar.edu.co/handle/cecar/10786
• Palabra clave: Asymptomatic infections; Economic conditions; Informal social controls; Public health; Seroepidemiologic studies; Social conditions
• Rights: openAccess
• License: Derechos reservados - Corporación Universitaria de Caribe - CECAR