tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Influenza Other Respir Viruses
. 2024 Sep;18(9):e70004.
doi: 10.1111/irv.70004. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Kosovo-Wide Population-Based Seroepidemiological Study
Naser Ramadani[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Sanije Hoxha-Gashi[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Dafina Gexha-Bunjaku[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Arijana Kalaveshi[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Xhevat Jakupi[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Isme Humolli[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Aisling Vaughan[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Richard Pebody[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Pranvera Kacaniku-Gunga[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Violeta Jashari[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Seroprevalence studies have proven to be an important tool in tracking the progression of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study was to measure the seroprevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the general population of Kosovo by gender, age group and region and among asymptomatic people.
Method: The Institute of Public Health of Kosovo conducted a cross-sectional population-based survey, aligned with the protocols of the WHO Unity Studies, from the beginning of May to the end of June 2021.
Results: The survey covered a total of 2204 people with a response rate of 91.8% (41.9% [923] males and 51.2% [1281] females). In May to June 2021, the prevalence of antibodies in the overall population (IgG antibodies ≥ 1.1) was 37.0%. Seroprevalence was 34.4% in men and 38.9% in women (p < 0.05), with the highest percentage (48.7%) found in the 60-69 years' age group. The overall prevalence of acute IgM antibodies (IgM ≥ 1.1) was 1% (95% CI: 0.7%-1.5%), with no significant difference between genders and the highest prevalence among participants of 60-69 years of age (1.6%; 95% CI: 0.7%-3.6%).
Conclusion: A high prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was found in Kosovo before the start of the vaccination campaign. However, the results of the survey suggested that, by the end of June 2021, a desirable level of protection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus had not been reached.
Keywords: COVID‐19; Kosovo; SARS‐CoV‐2; antibodies; seroepidemiological study; seroprevalence.
. 2024 Sep;18(9):e70004.
doi: 10.1111/irv.70004. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Kosovo-Wide Population-Based Seroepidemiological Study
Naser Ramadani[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Sanije Hoxha-Gashi[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Dafina Gexha-Bunjaku[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Arijana Kalaveshi[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Xhevat Jakupi[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Isme Humolli[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Aisling Vaughan[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Richard Pebody[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Pranvera Kacaniku-Gunga[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Violeta Jashari[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 39225019
- PMCID: PMC11369638
- DOI: 10.1111/irv.70004
Background: Seroprevalence studies have proven to be an important tool in tracking the progression of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study was to measure the seroprevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the general population of Kosovo by gender, age group and region and among asymptomatic people.
Method: The Institute of Public Health of Kosovo conducted a cross-sectional population-based survey, aligned with the protocols of the WHO Unity Studies, from the beginning of May to the end of June 2021.
Results: The survey covered a total of 2204 people with a response rate of 91.8% (41.9% [923] males and 51.2% [1281] females). In May to June 2021, the prevalence of antibodies in the overall population (IgG antibodies ≥ 1.1) was 37.0%. Seroprevalence was 34.4% in men and 38.9% in women (p < 0.05), with the highest percentage (48.7%) found in the 60-69 years' age group. The overall prevalence of acute IgM antibodies (IgM ≥ 1.1) was 1% (95% CI: 0.7%-1.5%), with no significant difference between genders and the highest prevalence among participants of 60-69 years of age (1.6%; 95% CI: 0.7%-3.6%).
Conclusion: A high prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was found in Kosovo before the start of the vaccination campaign. However, the results of the survey suggested that, by the end of June 2021, a desirable level of protection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus had not been reached.
Keywords: COVID‐19; Kosovo; SARS‐CoV‐2; antibodies; seroepidemiological study; seroprevalence.