TY - JOUR
T1 - Seroprevalence and estimation of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in older adults residing in Long-term Care Facilities in Chile
AU - Rubilar, Paola
AU - Hirmas, Macarena
AU - Matute, Isabel
AU - Browne, Jorge
AU - Little, Cedric
AU - Ruz, Gonzalo
AU - Aguilera, Ximena
AU - Ávila, Carlos
AU - Vial, Pablo
AU - Mackenzie, Tania Gutknecht
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, Medwave Estudios Ltda. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Introduction Older adults are at a higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. This vulnera-bility increases in those who live in long-term care facilities due to overcrowding, greater physical dependence, and contact with health workers. Evidence on the impact of the pandemic on these establishments in low-and middle-income countries has been scant. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in older people residing in long-term care facilities and estimate the impact of infection after the first wave of the pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional design with 2099 residents in three regions of Chile was carried out between September and November 2020. Measurement of antibodies was performed with a rapid test. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection was estimated with seropositive residents, those who had a history of positive polymerase chain reaction tests, and those who died from COVID-19. Bivariate analysis with the region, sex, age, history of COVID-19, physical dependence, and serological results were performed. In addition, we performed a correlation analysis between the seroprevalence of the centers by the municipality and the rate of confirmed cases. Results The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the three regions was 14.7% (95% confi-dence interval: 13.2 to 16.3%), the infection impact was 46.4%, and the fatality rate was 19.6%. A significant correlation was found between the seroprevalence of older adults residing in long-term care facilities and the cumulative incidence by municipalities. Conclusions The seroprevalence of older adults residing in long-term care facilities was higher than the general population. The high impact of infection among this population at the end of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is similar to other countries. The centers' environment is directly related to COVID-19 infection. Morbidity and mortality monitoring sys-tems should be implemented promptly to establish prevention and control measures.
AB - Introduction Older adults are at a higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. This vulnera-bility increases in those who live in long-term care facilities due to overcrowding, greater physical dependence, and contact with health workers. Evidence on the impact of the pandemic on these establishments in low-and middle-income countries has been scant. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in older people residing in long-term care facilities and estimate the impact of infection after the first wave of the pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional design with 2099 residents in three regions of Chile was carried out between September and November 2020. Measurement of antibodies was performed with a rapid test. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection was estimated with seropositive residents, those who had a history of positive polymerase chain reaction tests, and those who died from COVID-19. Bivariate analysis with the region, sex, age, history of COVID-19, physical dependence, and serological results were performed. In addition, we performed a correlation analysis between the seroprevalence of the centers by the municipality and the rate of confirmed cases. Results The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the three regions was 14.7% (95% confi-dence interval: 13.2 to 16.3%), the infection impact was 46.4%, and the fatality rate was 19.6%. A significant correlation was found between the seroprevalence of older adults residing in long-term care facilities and the cumulative incidence by municipalities. Conclusions The seroprevalence of older adults residing in long-term care facilities was higher than the general population. The high impact of infection among this population at the end of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is similar to other countries. The centers' environment is directly related to COVID-19 infection. Morbidity and mortality monitoring sys-tems should be implemented promptly to establish prevention and control measures.
KW - COVID-19 Serological Testing
KW - Long-Term Care
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - aged
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128794108&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5867/medwave.2022.03.002553
DO - 10.5867/medwave.2022.03.002553
M3 - Article
C2 - 35435888
AN - SCOPUS:85128794108
SN - 0717-6384
VL - 22
JO - Medwave
JF - Medwave
IS - 3
M1 - 002553
ER -