COVID-19 Surveillance in the Biobank at the Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine

  1. Randi K. Johnson
  2. Katie M. Marker
  3. David Mayer
  4. Jonathan Shortt
  5. David Kao
  6. Kathleen C. Barnes
  7. Jan T. Lowery
  8. Christopher R. Gignoux
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Abstract

Background

Characterizing the experience and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among various populations remains challenging due to the limitations inherent in common data sources such as the electronic health record (EHR) or convenience sample surveys.

Objective

To describe testing behaviors, symptoms, impact, vaccination status and case ascertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic using integrated data sources.

Methods

In summer 2020 and 2021, we surveyed participants enrolled in the Biobank at the Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine (CCPM, N = 180,599) about their experience with COVID-19. Prevalence of testing, symptoms, and the impacts of COVID-19 on employment, family life, and physical and mental health were calculated overall and by demographic categories. Using the Electronic Health Record (EHR), we compared COVID-19 case ascertainment and characteristics in the EHR versus the survey.

Results

Of the 25,063 survey respondents (13.9%), 42.5% had been tested for COVID-19 and of those, 12.8% tested positive. Nearly half of those tested had symptoms and/or had been exposed to someone who was infected. Young adults (18-29 years) and Hispanics were more likely to have positive tests compared to older adults and persons of other racial/ethnic groups. Mental health (54.6%) and family life (48.8%) were most negatively affected by the pandemic and more so among younger groups and women; negative impacts on employment were more commonly reported among Black respondents. After integration with EHR data up to the time of the survey completion, 4.0% of survey respondents (n=1,006) had discordant COVID-19 case status between the EHR and the survey. Using all longitudinal EHR and survey data, we identified 11,472 COVID-positive cases among Biobank participants (6.4%). In comparison to COVID-19 cases identified through the survey, EHR-identified cases were younger and more likely to be Hispanic.

Conclusions

Integrated data assets such as the Biobank at the CCPM are key resources for population health monitoring in response to public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

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