SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and respiratory disease disability claims in Mexico City Metropolitan Area

Salud Publica Mex. 2023 Jul 15;65(4, jul-ago):334-343. doi: 10.21149/14545.

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in workers from an essential large-scale company in the Greater Mexico City Metropolitan Area using point prevalence of acute infection, point prevalence of past infection through serum antibodies and respiratory disease short-term disability claims (RD-STDC).

Materials and methods: Four randomized surveys, three during 2020 before and one after (December 2021) vaccines' availability.

Outcomes: point prevalence of acute infection through saliva PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing, point prevalence of past infection through serum antibodies against Covid-19, RD-STDC and prevalence of symptoms during the previous six months.

Results: Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 cases was 1.29-4.88%, on average, a quarter of participants pre-vaccination were seropositive; over half of participants with a RD-STDC had antibodies. The odds of having antibodies were 6-7 times more among workers with an RD-STDC.

Conclusions: High antibody levels against Covid-19 in this study population reflects that coverage is high among workers in this industry. STDCs are a useful tool to track workplace epidemics.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Epidemics*
  • Humans
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral