Is living in a household with children associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in adults? Results from the Swiss national seroprevalence study Corona Immunitas
Jacob Blankenberger,
Marco Kaufmann,
Emiliano Albanese,
Rebecca Amati,
Daniela Anker,
Anne-Linda Camerini,
Patricia Chocano-Bedoya,
Stéphane Cullati,
Alexia Cusini,
Jan Fehr,
Erika Harju,
Philipp Kohler,
Susi Kriemler,
Gisela Michel,
Nicolas Rodondi,
Pierre-Yves Rodondi,
Alexandre Speierer,
Stefano Tancredi,
Milo A. Puhan,
Christian R. Kahlert,
on behalf of the Corona Immunitas Research Group
Affiliations
Jacob Blankenberger
Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich
Marco Kaufmann
Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich
Emiliano Albanese
Institute of Public Health, Università della Svizzera Italiana
Rebecca Amati
Institute of Public Health, Università della Svizzera Italiana
Daniela Anker
Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg
Anne-Linda Camerini
Institute of Public Health, Università della Svizzera Italiana
Patricia Chocano-Bedoya
Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern
Stéphane Cullati
Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg
Alexia Cusini
Division of Infectious Diseases, Kantonsspital Graubünden
Jan Fehr
Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich
Erika Harju
Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Luzern
Philipp Kohler
Division of Infectious Diseases, Kantonsspital Graubünden
Susi Kriemler
Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich
Gisela Michel
Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Luzern
Nicolas Rodondi
Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern
Pierre-Yves Rodondi
Institute of Family Medicine (IMF), University of Fribourg
Alexandre Speierer
Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern
Stefano Tancredi
Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg
Milo A. Puhan
Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich
Abstract Background We aimed to determine whether living in a household with children is associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in adults and investigated interacting factors that may influence this association. Methods SARS-CoV-2 serology testing was performed in randomly selected individuals from the general population between end of October 2020 and February 2021 in 11 cantons in Switzerland. Data on sociodemographic and household characteristics, employment status, and health-related history was collected using questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association of living with children <18 years of age (number, age group) and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. Further, we assessed the influence of reported non-household contacts, employment status, and gender. Results Of 2393 working age participants (18–64 years), 413 (17.2%) were seropositive. Our results suggest that living with children and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity are likely to be associated (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.22, 95% confidence interval [0.98–1.52], adjusted OR 1.25 [0.99–1.58]). A pattern of a positive association was also found for subgroups of children aged 0–11 years (OR 1.21 [0.90–1.60]) and 12–17 years (OR 1.14 [0.78–1.64]). Odds of seropositivity were higher with more children (OR 1.14 per additional child [1.02–1.27]). Men had higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection when living with children than women (interaction: OR 1.74 [1.10–2.76]). Conclusions In adults from the general population living with children seems associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. However, child-related infection risk is not the same for every subgroup and depends on factors like gender. Further factors determining child-related infection risk need to be identified and causal links investigated. Trial registration https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN18181860 .
