Socioeconomic position and SARS-CoV-2 infections: seroepidemiological findings from a German nationwide dynamic cohort

BackgroundEvidence on the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and infections with SARS-CoV-2 is still limited as most of the available studies are ecological in nature. This is the first German nationwide study to examine differences in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections according to SE...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) 2022-04, Vol.76 (4), p.350-353
Main Authors: Hoebel, Jens, Grabka, Markus M, Schröder, Carsten, Haller, Sebastian, Neuhauser, Hannelore, Wachtler, Benjamin, Schaade, Lars, Liebig, Stefan, Hövener, Claudia, Zinn, Sabine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antibodies
communicable diseases
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
Education
Essential workers
health inequalities
Health Promotion
Households
Humans
Infections
Laboratories
Pandemics
Participation
Population
Questionnaires
SARS-CoV-2
Secondary education
Seroepidemiology
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Short Report
social class
Socioeconomic Factors
Socioeconomics
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Summary:BackgroundEvidence on the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and infections with SARS-CoV-2 is still limited as most of the available studies are ecological in nature. This is the first German nationwide study to examine differences in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections according to SEP at the individual level.MethodsThe ‘CORONA-MONITORING bundesweit’ (RKI-SOEP) study is a seroepidemiological survey among a dynamic cohort of the German adult population (n=15 122; October 2020–February 2021). Dried blood samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and oral-nasal swabs for viral RNA. SEP was measured by education and income. Robust logistic regression was used to examine adjusted associations of SARS-CoV-2 infections with SEP.Results288 participants were seropositive, PCR positive or self-reported a previous laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The adjusted odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection were 1.87-fold (95% CI 1.06 to 3.29) higher among low-educated than highly educated adults. Evidence was weaker for income differences in infections (OR=1.65; 95% CI 0.89 to 3.05). Highly educated adults had lower odds of undetected infection.ConclusionThe results indicate an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in low-educated groups. To promote health equity in the pandemic and beyond, social determinants should be addressed more in infection protection and pandemic planning.
ISSN:0143-005X
1470-2738
1470-2738
DOI:10.1136/jech-2021-217653