Trends in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence amongst urban paediatric patients compared with a nationwide cohort in the Netherlands

I. L.M. Rotee; D. S.Y. Ong; J. G.M. Koeleman; E. R.A. Vos; G. A. Tramper-Stranders

doi:10.1016/j.jcvp.2021.100045

Trends in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence amongst urban paediatric patients compared with a nationwide cohort in the Netherlands

I. L.M. Rotee, D. S.Y. Ong, J. G.M. Koeleman, E. R.A. Vos, G. A. Tramper-Stranders^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Pediatrics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Objectives: The extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst children and their role in transmission remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence amongst children who presented to our hospital for non-COVID-19-related morbidity during the first and second epidemic wave in 2020 and compared these to the general Dutch paediatric population.

Methods: We collected residual plasma samples from all paediatric patients (1 month-17 years of age) visiting our clinic or emergency room, who had blood drawing for various medical reasons. Samples were analysed for the presence of total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by Wantai ELISA. The seroprevalence in two separate periods (July-Sep 2020, and Oct-Dec 2020) was compared to regional and national data (PIENTER-Corona study, September 2020), and associations with co-morbidities were assessed.

Results: A total of 209 samples in period 1 and 240 samples in period 2 were collected (median age 7.1 years, IQR 1.5–13.5). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 4.1% and 13.8%, respectively (p< 0.001). Seroprevalence was higher compared to national paediatric data, but did not differ with regional estimates. Most children with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were seen in the outpatient clinic for general paediatric problems with no differences in medical reasons for presentation between the two periods.

Conclusions: These data confirm a rapid three-fold increase in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in paediatric patients in the second half of 2020 with a trend towards a higher seroprevalence compared to randomly-selected children in a nationwide study. Underlying morbidity in children might not play an important role in acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Original language	English
Article number	100045
Journal	Journal of Clinical Virology Plus
Volume	1
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcvp.2021.100045
Publication status	Published - Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding:
This research was partially funded by the Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands and did not receive any additional funding from agencies in the public, commercial, or not-forprofit sectors. The national cohort (PIENTER-Corona) was funded by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS), the Netherlands.

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors

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1-s2.0-S2667038021000375-mainFinal published version, 292 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "Trends in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence amongst urban paediatric patients compared with a nationwide cohort in the Netherlands",

abstract = "Objectives: The extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst children and their role in transmission remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence amongst children who presented to our hospital for non-COVID-19-related morbidity during the first and second epidemic wave in 2020 and compared these to the general Dutch paediatric population. Methods: We collected residual plasma samples from all paediatric patients (1 month-17 years of age) visiting our clinic or emergency room, who had blood drawing for various medical reasons. Samples were analysed for the presence of total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by Wantai ELISA. The seroprevalence in two separate periods (July-Sep 2020, and Oct-Dec 2020) was compared to regional and national data (PIENTER-Corona study, September 2020), and associations with co-morbidities were assessed. Results: A total of 209 samples in period 1 and 240 samples in period 2 were collected (median age 7.1 years, IQR 1.5–13.5). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 4.1% and 13.8%, respectively (p< 0.001). Seroprevalence was higher compared to national paediatric data, but did not differ with regional estimates. Most children with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were seen in the outpatient clinic for general paediatric problems with no differences in medical reasons for presentation between the two periods. Conclusions: These data confirm a rapid three-fold increase in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in paediatric patients in the second half of 2020 with a trend towards a higher seroprevalence compared to randomly-selected children in a nationwide study. Underlying morbidity in children might not play an important role in acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection.",

author = "Rotee, {I. L.M.} and Ong, {D. S.Y.} and Koeleman, {J. G.M.} and Vos, {E. R.A.} and Tramper-Stranders, {G. A.}",

note = "Funding: This research was partially funded by the Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands and did not receive any additional funding from agencies in the public, commercial, or not-forprofit sectors. The national cohort (PIENTER-Corona) was funded by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS), the Netherlands. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jcvp.2021.100045",

language = "English",

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AU - Rotee, I. L.M.

AU - Ong, D. S.Y.

AU - Koeleman, J. G.M.

AU - Vos, E. R.A.

AU - Tramper-Stranders, G. A.

N1 - Funding: This research was partially funded by the Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands and did not receive any additional funding from agencies in the public, commercial, or not-forprofit sectors. The national cohort (PIENTER-Corona) was funded by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS), the Netherlands. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors

PY - 2021/12

Y1 - 2021/12

N2 - Objectives: The extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst children and their role in transmission remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence amongst children who presented to our hospital for non-COVID-19-related morbidity during the first and second epidemic wave in 2020 and compared these to the general Dutch paediatric population. Methods: We collected residual plasma samples from all paediatric patients (1 month-17 years of age) visiting our clinic or emergency room, who had blood drawing for various medical reasons. Samples were analysed for the presence of total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by Wantai ELISA. The seroprevalence in two separate periods (July-Sep 2020, and Oct-Dec 2020) was compared to regional and national data (PIENTER-Corona study, September 2020), and associations with co-morbidities were assessed. Results: A total of 209 samples in period 1 and 240 samples in period 2 were collected (median age 7.1 years, IQR 1.5–13.5). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 4.1% and 13.8%, respectively (p< 0.001). Seroprevalence was higher compared to national paediatric data, but did not differ with regional estimates. Most children with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were seen in the outpatient clinic for general paediatric problems with no differences in medical reasons for presentation between the two periods. Conclusions: These data confirm a rapid three-fold increase in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in paediatric patients in the second half of 2020 with a trend towards a higher seroprevalence compared to randomly-selected children in a nationwide study. Underlying morbidity in children might not play an important role in acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection.

AB - Objectives: The extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst children and their role in transmission remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence amongst children who presented to our hospital for non-COVID-19-related morbidity during the first and second epidemic wave in 2020 and compared these to the general Dutch paediatric population. Methods: We collected residual plasma samples from all paediatric patients (1 month-17 years of age) visiting our clinic or emergency room, who had blood drawing for various medical reasons. Samples were analysed for the presence of total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by Wantai ELISA. The seroprevalence in two separate periods (July-Sep 2020, and Oct-Dec 2020) was compared to regional and national data (PIENTER-Corona study, September 2020), and associations with co-morbidities were assessed. Results: A total of 209 samples in period 1 and 240 samples in period 2 were collected (median age 7.1 years, IQR 1.5–13.5). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 4.1% and 13.8%, respectively (p< 0.001). Seroprevalence was higher compared to national paediatric data, but did not differ with regional estimates. Most children with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were seen in the outpatient clinic for general paediatric problems with no differences in medical reasons for presentation between the two periods. Conclusions: These data confirm a rapid three-fold increase in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in paediatric patients in the second half of 2020 with a trend towards a higher seroprevalence compared to randomly-selected children in a nationwide study. Underlying morbidity in children might not play an important role in acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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SN - 2667-0380

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Trends in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence amongst urban paediatric patients compared with a nationwide cohort in the Netherlands

Abstract

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