Anti-SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among medical students in Copenhagen

  1. Johannes R. Madsen
  2. Jacob P. S. Nielsen
  3. Kamille Fogh
  4. Cecilie B. Hansen
  5. Pernille B. Nielsen
  6. Theis Lange
  7. Rasmus B. Hasselbalch
  8. Peter Garred
  9. Kasper Iversen
1 evaluations Published on
Read the full article Related papers
This article on Sciety

Abstract

Background

Healthcare workers are at a higher risk of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 than the general population. However, detailed knowledge about medical students and exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is lacking. Thus, we measured the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a cohort of Danish medical students.

Methods

We invited all medical students at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) to participate. A venous blood sample was drawn along with completing a self-report questionnaire. Blood samples were analyzed for total antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and related to symptomatology, social behaviour, and work-life. Seropositive samples were screened for IgM, IgG, and IgA antibodies.

Results

Between October 19 th and 26 th 1,120 students participated in questionnaire, of these 1,096 were included in the study. Of all included 379 (34.58%) of the participants were seropositive. The risk of seropositivity was significantly increased for participants attending two parties at UCPH, on February the 29th and March 6 th 2020 (OR 5.96 (95% CI 4.34-8.24, p<0.001). Further, 461 students (42.06%) worked with COVID-19 patients, which was significantly associated with risk of seropositivity (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.03-1.85, p=0.033). The symptom most substantially associated with seropositivity was loss of smell and/or taste (n=183 of all, 31.35%) with an OR of 24.48 (95% CI 15.49-40.60, p<0.001).

Conclusion

Medical students have the highest reported seropositivity in the Danish healthcare system. The risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission amongst the students appear to be partly related to working with COVID-19 infected patients, but to a greater extent, their social behaviour.

Mainpoints

Medical students have the highest reported seropositivity in the Danish healthcare system. The risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission amongst the students appear to be partly related to working with COVID-19 infected patients, but to a greater extent, their social behaviour.

Related articles

Related articles are currently not available for this article.