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Point prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Sweden at six time points during 2020

Groenheit, Ramona ; Beser, Jessica ; Kühlmann berenzon, Sharon ; Galanis, Ilias ; Van straten, Edward ; Duracz, Jan ; Rapp, Marie ; Hansson, Disa ; Mansjö, Mikael and Söderholm, Sandra , et al. (2022) In BMC Infectious Diseases 22(1). p.1-10
Abstract
Background
In order to estimate the prevalence and understand the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Sweden, the Public Health Agency of Sweden, with support from the Swedish Armed Forces, conducted a series of point prevalence surveys between March and December 2020.

Methods
Sampling material and instructions on how to perform self-sampling of the upper respiratory tract were delivered to the homes of the participants. Samples were analysed by real-time PCR, and the participants completed questionnaires regarding symptoms.

Findings
The first survey in the Stockholm region in March 2020 included 707 participants and showed a SARS-CoV-2 prevalence of 2.5%. The following five surveys, performed on a national level, with... (More)
Background
In order to estimate the prevalence and understand the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Sweden, the Public Health Agency of Sweden, with support from the Swedish Armed Forces, conducted a series of point prevalence surveys between March and December 2020.

Methods
Sampling material and instructions on how to perform self-sampling of the upper respiratory tract were delivered to the homes of the participants. Samples were analysed by real-time PCR, and the participants completed questionnaires regarding symptoms.

Findings
The first survey in the Stockholm region in March 2020 included 707 participants and showed a SARS-CoV-2 prevalence of 2.5%. The following five surveys, performed on a national level, with between 2461 and 2983 participants, showed SARS-CoV-2 prevalences of 0.9% (April), 0.3% (May), 0.0% (August), 0.0% (September), and 0.7% (December). All positive cases who responded to questionnaires reported experiencing symptoms that occurred from 2 weeks before the date of sampling up to and including the date of sampling.

Interpretation
None of the individuals shown to be PCR-positive were asymptomatic at the time of sampling or in the 14 days prior to sampling. This is in contrast to many other surveys in which a substantial proportion of positive cases have been reported to be asymptomatic. Our surveys demonstrate a decreasing ratio between notified cases and the observed prevalence throughout the year, in line with increasing testing capacity and the consecutive inclusion of all symptomatic individuals in the case definition for testing. (Less)
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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
in
BMC Infectious Diseases
volume
22
issue
1
pages
1 - 10
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • scopus:85142184524
  • pmid:36396981
ISSN
1471-2334
DOI
10.1186/s12879-022-07858-6
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
8b477e59-688c-4a6d-ad34-d2c09e908f7b
date added to LUP
2022-11-18 12:42:43
date last changed
2023-05-20 03:00:01
@article{8b477e59-688c-4a6d-ad34-d2c09e908f7b,
  abstract     = {{Background<br/>In order to estimate the prevalence and understand the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Sweden, the Public Health Agency of Sweden, with support from the Swedish Armed Forces, conducted a series of point prevalence surveys between March and December 2020.<br/><br/>Methods<br/>Sampling material and instructions on how to perform self-sampling of the upper respiratory tract were delivered to the homes of the participants. Samples were analysed by real-time PCR, and the participants completed questionnaires regarding symptoms.<br/><br/>Findings<br/>The first survey in the Stockholm region in March 2020 included 707 participants and showed a SARS-CoV-2 prevalence of 2.5%. The following five surveys, performed on a national level, with between 2461 and 2983 participants, showed SARS-CoV-2 prevalences of 0.9% (April), 0.3% (May), 0.0% (August), 0.0% (September), and 0.7% (December). All positive cases who responded to questionnaires reported experiencing symptoms that occurred from 2 weeks before the date of sampling up to and including the date of sampling.<br/><br/>Interpretation<br/>None of the individuals shown to be PCR-positive were asymptomatic at the time of sampling or in the 14 days prior to sampling. This is in contrast to many other surveys in which a substantial proportion of positive cases have been reported to be asymptomatic. Our surveys demonstrate a decreasing ratio between notified cases and the observed prevalence throughout the year, in line with increasing testing capacity and the consecutive inclusion of all symptomatic individuals in the case definition for testing.}},
  author       = {{Groenheit, Ramona and Beser, Jessica and Kühlmann berenzon, Sharon and Galanis, Ilias and Van straten, Edward and Duracz, Jan and Rapp, Marie and Hansson, Disa and Mansjö, Mikael and Söderholm, Sandra and Muradrasoli, Shaman and Risberg, Anna and Ölund, Richard and Wiklund, Andreas and Metzkes, Kristoffer and Lundberg, Matilda and Bacchus, Philip and Tegmark wisell, Karin and Bråve, Andreas}},
  issn         = {{1471-2334}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{1--10}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Infectious Diseases}},
  title        = {{Point prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Sweden at six time points during 2020}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07858-6}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12879-022-07858-6}},
  volume       = {{22}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}