TY - JOUR
T1 - SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence among homeless people and shelter workers in Denmark
T2 - a nationwide cross-sectional study
AU - Eriksen, Alexandra R Röthlin
AU - Fogh, Kamille
AU - Hasselbalch, Rasmus B
AU - Bundgaard, Henning
AU - Nielsen, Susanne D
AU - Jørgensen, Charlotte S
AU - Scharff, Bibi F S S
AU - Erikstrup, Christian
AU - Sækmose, Susanne G
AU - Holm, Dorte K
AU - Aagaard, Bitten
AU - Kristensen, Jonas H
AU - Bødker, Cecilie A
AU - Norsk, Jakob B
AU - Nielsen, Pernille B
AU - Østergaard, Lars
AU - Ellermann-Eriksen, Svend
AU - Andersen, Berit
AU - Nielsen, Henrik
AU - Johansen, Isik S
AU - Wiese, Lothar
AU - Simonsen, Lone
AU - K Fischer, Thea
AU - Folke, Fredrik
AU - Lippert, Freddy
AU - Ostrowski, Sisse R
AU - Ethelberg, Steen
AU - Koch, Anders
AU - Vangsted, Anne-Marie
AU - Krause, Tyra
AU - Fomsgaard, Anders
AU - Nielsen, Claus
AU - Ullum, Henrik
AU - Skov, Robert
AU - Iversen, Kasper
N1 - © 2022. The Author(s).
PY - 2022/6/27
Y1 - 2022/6/27
N2 - BACKGROUND: People experiencing homelessness (PEH) and associated shelter workers may be at higher risk of infection with "Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2" (SARS-CoV-2). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among PEH and shelter workers in Denmark.DESIGN AND METHODS: In November 2020, we conducted a nationwide cross-sectional seroprevalence study among PEH and shelter workers at 21 recruitment sites in Denmark. The assessment included a point-of-care test for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, followed by a questionnaire. The seroprevalence was compared to that of geographically matched blood donors considered as a proxy for the background population, tested using a total Ig ELISA assay.RESULTS: We included 827 participants in the study, of whom 819 provided their SARS-CoV-2 antibody results. Of those, 628 were PEH (median age 50.8 (IQR 40.9-59.1) years, 35.5% female) and 191 were shelter workers (median age 46.6 (IQR 36.1-55.0) years and 74.5% female). The overall seroprevalence was 6.7% and was similar among PEH and shelter workers (6.8% vs 6.3%, p = 0.87); and 12.2% among all participants who engaged in sex work. The overall participant seroprevalence was significantly higher than that of the background population (2.9%, p < 0.001). When combining all participants who reported sex work or were recruited at designated safe havens, we found a significantly increased risk of seropositivity compared to other participants (OR 2.23, 95%CI 1.06-4.43, p = 0.02). Seropositive and seronegative participants reported a similar presence of at least one SARS-CoV-2 associated symptom (49% and 54%, respectively).INTERPRETATIONS: The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was more than twice as high among PEH and associated shelter workers, compared to the background population. These results could be taken into consideration when deciding in which phase PEH are eligible for a vaccine, as part of the Danish national SARS-CoV-2 vaccination program rollout.FUNDING: TrygFonden and HelseFonden.
AB - BACKGROUND: People experiencing homelessness (PEH) and associated shelter workers may be at higher risk of infection with "Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2" (SARS-CoV-2). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among PEH and shelter workers in Denmark.DESIGN AND METHODS: In November 2020, we conducted a nationwide cross-sectional seroprevalence study among PEH and shelter workers at 21 recruitment sites in Denmark. The assessment included a point-of-care test for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, followed by a questionnaire. The seroprevalence was compared to that of geographically matched blood donors considered as a proxy for the background population, tested using a total Ig ELISA assay.RESULTS: We included 827 participants in the study, of whom 819 provided their SARS-CoV-2 antibody results. Of those, 628 were PEH (median age 50.8 (IQR 40.9-59.1) years, 35.5% female) and 191 were shelter workers (median age 46.6 (IQR 36.1-55.0) years and 74.5% female). The overall seroprevalence was 6.7% and was similar among PEH and shelter workers (6.8% vs 6.3%, p = 0.87); and 12.2% among all participants who engaged in sex work. The overall participant seroprevalence was significantly higher than that of the background population (2.9%, p < 0.001). When combining all participants who reported sex work or were recruited at designated safe havens, we found a significantly increased risk of seropositivity compared to other participants (OR 2.23, 95%CI 1.06-4.43, p = 0.02). Seropositive and seronegative participants reported a similar presence of at least one SARS-CoV-2 associated symptom (49% and 54%, respectively).INTERPRETATIONS: The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was more than twice as high among PEH and associated shelter workers, compared to the background population. These results could be taken into consideration when deciding in which phase PEH are eligible for a vaccine, as part of the Danish national SARS-CoV-2 vaccination program rollout.FUNDING: TrygFonden and HelseFonden.
KW - Antibodies, Viral
KW - COVID-19/epidemiology
KW - COVID-19 Vaccines
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Denmark/epidemiology
KW - Female
KW - Health Personnel
KW - Homeless Persons
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Prevalence
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - Seroepidemiologic Studies
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85132951280
U2 - 10.1186/s12889-022-13642-7
DO - 10.1186/s12889-022-13642-7
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 35761270
SN - 1471-2458
VL - 22
SP - 1261
JO - BMC PUBLIC HEALTH
JF - BMC PUBLIC HEALTH
IS - 1
M1 - 1261
ER -