Seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the Valencian Community (Spain) as of October 2022

Aníbal García-Sempere; Estela Giménez; Hermelinda Vanaclocha; Ramón Limón; Salvador Peiró; David Navarro

doi:10.1016/j.gaceta.2023.102312

Seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the Valencian Community (Spain) as of October 2022

Gac Sanit. 2023 May 18:37:102312. doi: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2023.102312. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Aníbal García-Sempere¹, Estela Giménez², Hermelinda Vanaclocha³, Ramón Limón⁴, Salvador Peiró⁵, David Navarro⁶

Affiliations

¹ Health Services Research and Pharmacoepidemiology Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of the Valencian Community (FISABIO), València, Spain; Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion Research Network (RICAPPS), València, Spain. Electronic address: garcia_ani@gva.es.
² Microbiology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, València, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Spain.
³ General Directorate of Public Health, Department of Health, Valencian Government, València, Spain.
⁴ General Directorate of Healthcare, Department of Health, Valencian Government, València, Spain.
⁵ Health Services Research and Pharmacoepidemiology Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of the Valencian Community (FISABIO), València, Spain; Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion Research Network (RICAPPS), València, Spain.
⁶ Microbiology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, València, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Spain; Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, València, Spain.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Objective: To estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the Valencian Community (Spain) in October 2022, when BA.5 was the predominant variant.

Method: Cross-sectional, region-wide, population-based serosurvey study in 88 randomly selected primary care centers of the Valencian Community.

Results: Seroprevalence of anti-nucleocapsid (indicative of past infection) and total receptor binding domain (indicative of past infection or vaccination) antibodies was 71.0% (confidence interval [CI]: 67.8-74.2) and 98.4% (CI: 97.5-99.3), respectively. 66.7% (CI: 63.4-70.0) of the population shows hybrid immunity, but only 43.2% in those 80 and over.

Conclusions: The high proportion of hybrid immunity detected is relevant for public health strategies. A second vaccination booster was advisable in the elderly population.

Objetivo: Estimar la seroprevalencia de anticuerpos frente al SARS-CoV-2 en la Comunidad Valenciana (España) en octubre de 2022, cuando BA.5 era la variante predominante.

Método: Estudio transversal de base poblacional de ámbito autonómico en 88 centros de atención primaria de la Comunidad Valenciana seleccionados aleatoriamente.

Resultados: La seroprevalencia de anticuerpos antinucleocápside (indicativos de infección previa) y frente al dominio de la unión al receptor (indicativos de infección o vacunación) fue del 71,0% (intervalo de confianza [IC]: 67,8-74,2) y del 98,4% (IC: 97,5-99,3), respectivamente. El 66,7% (IC: 63,4-70,0) de la población mostraba inmunidad híbrida, pero solo el 43,2% de los mayores de 80 años.

Conclusiones: La alta proporción de inmunidad híbrida detectada era relevante para las estrategias de salud pública, pero era aconsejable un segundo refuerzo de vacunación en la población anciana.

Keywords: Adaptive immunity; COVID-19; COVID-19 serological testing; España; Estudios seroepidemiológicos; Inmunidad adaptativa; Pruebas serológicas de COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 variants; Seroepidemiologic studies; Spain; Variantes de SARS-CoV-2.

MeSH terms

Aged
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
SARS-CoV-2*
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Spain / epidemiology

Abstract in English, Spanish

MeSH terms

Abstract
in English, Spanish