Seroprevalence and silent infection rate during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic among children and adolescents in Western Pomerania: a multicenter, cross-sectional study—the COVIDKID study
Marcus Vollmer,
Daniela Kuthning,
Jana Gramenz,
Arevik Scholz,
Robin Michael,
Nico Wittmann,
Udo Gesser,
Christian Niesytto,
Antje Vogler,
Vanda Tuxhorn,
Ute Lenschow,
Anja Lange,
Kristina Linnemann,
Holger Lode,
Lars Kaderali,
Almut Meyer-Bahlburg
Affiliations
Marcus Vollmer
Institute of Bioinformatics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Daniela Kuthning
Pediatric Rheumatology, Department Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Jana Gramenz
Pediatric Rheumatology, Department Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Arevik Scholz
Pediatric Rheumatology, Department Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Robin Michael
Pediatric Rheumatology, Department Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Nico Wittmann
Pediatric Rheumatology, Department Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Udo Gesser
Children’s Hospital, Sana Hospital Rügen, Bergen, Germany
Christian Niesytto
Department of Pediatrics, AMEOS Hospital Anklam, Anklam, Germany
Antje Vogler
Department of Pediatrics, Asklepios Clinic Pasewalk, Pasewalk, Germany
Vanda Tuxhorn
Department of Pediatrics, Kreiskrankenhaus Demmin, Demmin, Germany
Ute Lenschow
Department of Pediatrics, Helios Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany
Anja Lange
Pediatric Rheumatology, Department Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Kristina Linnemann
Pediatrics Outpatient Clinic, Greifswald, Germany
Holger Lode
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Lars Kaderali
Institute of Bioinformatics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Almut Meyer-Bahlburg
Pediatric Rheumatology, Department Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Background Limited data on SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in rural areas of northern Germany necessitate comprehensive cohort studies. We aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence, silent infection (SI) rates and risk factors for infections among children and adolescents in Western Pomerania from December 2020 to August 2022. Methods In this cross-sectional study, serum or plasma samples from children and adolescents (6 months to 17 years) were collected during routine blood draw. SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies (S1 and nucleocapsid) and their neutralizing capacity were analyzed using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent and neutralization assays. Socio-demographic data and information about SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination were obtained. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infections and SI. Results A total of 1,131 blood samples were included into the study. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 25.1%, strongly influenced by the pandemic course, predominant virus variants, age and approval of vaccination. SI rate was 5.4% (95%-CI [3.7%–6.8%]) among unvaccinated and undiagnosed children over the entire study period with highest rates among adolescents. Main risk factor despite the time at risk for silent infections was an infected household member (Odds ratio = 9.88, 95%-CI [4.23–22.9], p < 0.001). Factors associated with overall infections (known and silent) also include the infection of a household member (Odds ratio = 17.8, 95%-CI [10.7–29.6], p < 0.001). Conclusions We believe that the introduction of governmental measures and systematic test strategies in schools strongly impacted on the SI rate, as we suspect that asymptomatic cases have already been identified, resulting in surprisingly low SI identified in our study.
