Backgrounds: A novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus ۲ (SARS-CoV-۲) has now spread to all countries of the world, including Iran. Although anti-SARS-CoV-۲ antibodies may be identified in patients using immunological methods with sufficient sensitivity and specificity, the conclusive diagnosis of the disease is made using the molecular RT-PCR method. A population-based seroepidemiological survey was conducted to quantify the proportion of the exposed population with
SARS-CoV-۲ antibodies and evaluate whether the antibodies are a marker of total or partial immunity compared to the population that remains susceptible to the virus.
Material & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of
COVID-۱۹ in Valiasr, Sajad, and Ghaem hospitals in Tehran, the capital of Iran, from April to the end of October ۲۰۲۰. Clotted and heparinized blood specimens (۲mL) were collected from the patients. The serum and plasma were separated and stored at −۸۰ °C until use. Anti-SARS-CoV-۲ IgG and IgM antibodies were examined in the serum samples of ۱۳۷۵ in-patients admitted to the hospitals using
ELISA kits. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software Ver.۲۲.۰ by employing statistical tests such as Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. A p-value <.۰۵ was considered as significant.
Findings: In total, ۱۳۷۵ participants were enrolled in this study, and SARS‐CoV‐۲ antibodies were detected in ۲۹۱ patients using IgM‐IgG antibody assay. Among the seropositive patients studied, ۱۸۷ were male (۶۴.۳%), and ۱۰۴ were female (۳۵.۷%) (p<.۰۵). The mean age of the patients was ۴۹±۸.۴ years; the majority of whom (۲۷%) were in the age group of ۳۱-۴۰ years. Also, the lowest frequency of infected cases was related to the age group of ۱-۱۰ years (p <.۰۵). The seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐۲ IgM or IgG antibodies was determined to be ۲۱.۲%. Diabetes mellitus was the most common underlying disease among SARS‐CoV‐۲ patients [p=.۰۵; Odd Ratio=۱.۶۱(۰.۹۰-۲.۹۱)].
Conclusion: The use of conventional serological assays, such as the enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), for detecting specific IgM and IgG antibodies in SARS‐CoV‐۲ patients has a high-throughput advantage while minimizing false-negative results obtained using the RT-PCR method. In this study, the seroprevalence of
SARS-CoV-۲ antibodies was determined to be ۲۱%. Control of diabetes, among other influential factors, plays an important role in the management and control of COVID-۱۹.