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. Rothlin

AU - Fogh, Kamille

AU - Hasselbalch, Rasmus B.

AU - Bundgaard, Henning

AU - Nielsen, Susanne D.

AU - Jorgensen, Charlotte S.

AU - Scharff, Bibi F. S. S.

AU - Erikstrup, Christian

AU - Saekmose, Susanne G.

AU - Holm, Dorte K.

AU - Aagaard, Bitten

AU - Kristensen, Jonas H.

AU - Bodker, Cecilie A.

AU - Norsk, Jakob B.

AU - Nielsen, Pernille B.

AU - ostergaard, Lars

AU - Ellermann-Eriksen, Svend

AU - Andersen, Berit

AU - Nielsen, Henrik

AU - Johansen, Isik S.

AU - Wiese, Lothar

AU - Simonsen, Lone

AU - Fischer, Thea K.

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

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - BackgroundPeople 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 methodsIn 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.ResultsWe 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).InterpretationsThe 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.FundingTrygFonden and HelseFonden.

AB - BackgroundPeople 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 methodsIn 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.ResultsWe 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).InterpretationsThe 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.FundingTrygFonden and HelseFonden.

U2 - 10.1186/s12889-022-13642-7

DO - 10.1186/s12889-022-13642-7

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 35761270

VL - 22

JO - BMC Public Health

JF - BMC Public Health

SN - 1471-2458

M1 - 1261

ER -