Author:
Han Jina,Baek Hye Jin,Noh Eunbi,Yoon Kyuhyun,Kim Jung Ae,Ryu Sukhyun,Lee Kay O,Park No Yai,Jung Eunok,Kim Sangil,Lee Hyukmin,Hwang Yoo-Sung,Jung Jaehun,Lee Hun Jae,Cho Sung-il,Oh Sangcheol,Kim Migyeong,Oh Chang-Mo,Yu Byengchul,Hong Young-Seoub,Kim Keonyeop,Jung Sunjae,Han Mi Ah,Lee Moo-Sik,Lee Jung-Jeung,Hwangbo Young,Yim Hyeon Woo,Kim Yu-Mi,Lee Joongyub,Lee Weon-Young,Park Jae-Hyun,Oh Sungsoo,Jo Heui Sug,Kim Hyeongsu,Kang Gilwon,Nam Hae-Sung,Lee Ju-Hyung,Oh Gyung-Jae,Shin Min-Ho,Ryu Soyeon,Hwang Tae-Yoon,Park Soon-Woo,Kim Sang Kyu,Seol Roma,Park Ki-Soo,Kim Su Young,Kwon Jun-wook,Kim Sung Soon,Kim Byoungguk,Lee June-Woo,Jang Eun Young,Kim Ah-Ra,Nam Jeonghyun,Lee Soon Young,Kim Dong-Hyun,
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea.METHODS: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics. Subsequently, participants visited a community health center or medical clinic for blood sampling. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of anti-spike (anti-S) and anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 proteins using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. To estimate the population prevalence, the PROC SURVEYMEANS statistical procedure was employed, with weighting to reflect demographic data from July 2022.RESULTS: In total, 9,945 individuals from 5,041 households were surveyed across 258 communities, representing all basic local governments in South Korea. The overall population-adjusted prevalence rates of anti-S and anti-N were 97.6% and 57.1%, respectively. Since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has reported a cumulative incidence of confirmed cases of 37.8% through July 31, 2022, the proportion of unreported infections among all COVID-19 infection was suggested to be 33.9%.CONCLUSIONS: The K-SMART represents the first nationwide, community-based seroepidemiologic survey of COVID-19, confirming that most individuals possess antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and that a significant number of unreported cases existed. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for a surveillance system to continuously monitor transmission at the community level and the response to COVID-19.
Publisher
Korean Society of Epidemiology