National population prevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in Scotland during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic

N. E. Palmateer*, E. Dickson, E. Furrie, I. Godber, D. J. Goldberg, P. Gousias, L. Jarvis, L. Mathie, S. Mavin, J. McMenamin, T. N. McNeilly, P. Murcia, J. Murray, G. Reid, C. Robertson, K. Templeton, B. von Wissmann, L. A. Wallace, C. Waugh, A. McAuley

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: Studies that measure the prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (‘seroprevalence’) are essential to understand population exposure to SARS-CoV-2 among symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. We aimed to measure seroprevalence in the Scottish population over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic – from before the first recorded case in Scotland through to the second pandemic wave. 

Study design: The study design of this study is serial cross sectional. 

Methods: We tested 41,477 residual samples retrieved from primary and antenatal care settings across Scotland for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies over a 12-month period from December 2019-December 2020 (before rollout of COVID-19 vaccination). Five-weekly rolling seroprevalence estimates were adjusted for the sensitivity and specificity of the assays and weighted to reference populations. Temporal trends in seroprevalence estimates and weekly SARS-CoV-2 notifications were compared. 

Results: Five-weekly rolling seroprevalence rates were 0% until the end of March, when they increased contemporaneously with the first pandemic wave. Seroprevalence rates remained stable through the summer (range: 3%–5%) during a period of social restrictions, after which they increased concurrently with the second wave, reaching 9.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.4%–10.8%) in the week beginning 28th December in 2020. Seroprevalence rates were lower in rural vs. urban areas (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.61–0.79) and among individuals aged 20–39 years and 60 years and older (AOR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.64–0.86; AOR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.69–0.91, respectively) relative to those aged 0–19 years. 

Conclusions: After two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, less than one in ten individuals in the Scottish population had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Seroprevalence may underestimate the true population exposure as a result of waning antibodies among individuals who were infected early in the first wave.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)102-105
Number of pages4
JournalPublic Health
Volume198
Early online date16 Aug 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2021

Keywords

  • Antibodies
  • COVID-19
  • Cross sectional
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Seroprevalence

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