tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Transbound Emerg Dis
. 2022 Jun 10.
doi: 10.1111/tbed.14619. Online ahead of print.
Case-control study to identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among university students in the northeastern USA
Kevin J Cummings[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Marin Clarkberg[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jefferson Busche[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alexander J Travis[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Genevive R Meredith[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Isaac Weisfuse[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Casey L Cazer[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Gary A Koretzky[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lorin D Warnick[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Curbing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires a thorough understanding of risk factors for transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the etiologic agent. Institutions of higher education present unique challenges for controlling disease spread because of features inherent to these settings. Our objective was to determine risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among a university student population in the northeastern USA during the spring and fall 2021 semesters, using the case-control study design. Cases were defined as students with a newly diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection, detected either through the robust PCR-based surveillance testing program on campus or through healthcare testing if symptoms compatible with COVID-19 were present. Controls were defined as students with negative SARS-CoV-2 status, based on consistently negative PCR results at the time of selection. A comprehensive questionnaire was administered to each student enrolled in the study, covering a broad range of campus life activities. A total of 446 cases and 1,185 controls were included in this study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that recent party attendance (adjusted OR = 2.3, p < 0.0001), recently visiting a bar (aOR = 1.6, p = 0.007), living in a campus residence hall (aOR = 1.6, p = 0.001), fraternity/sorority membership (aOR = 1.8, p = 0.002), and recent travel (aOR = 1.3, p = 0.04) were associated with being a COVID-19 case. Having an on-campus job was negatively associated with being a COVID-19 case (aOR = 0.6, p = 0.0003). Among cases, the most commonly reported symptoms were cough (43.9%), fatigue (38.1%), and sore throat (30.3%). These findings can be used to inform the development of COVID-19 mitigation strategies and public health outreach efforts in university settings, thus reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission among students and helping to preserve the vital education and research missions of these institutions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: COVID-19; Case-control study; SARS-CoV-2; epidemiology; public health; risk factors.
. 2022 Jun 10.
doi: 10.1111/tbed.14619. Online ahead of print.
Case-control study to identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among university students in the northeastern USA
Kevin J Cummings[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Marin Clarkberg[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jefferson Busche[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alexander J Travis[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Genevive R Meredith[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Isaac Weisfuse[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Casey L Cazer[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Gary A Koretzky[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lorin D Warnick[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35687478
- DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14619
Abstract
Curbing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires a thorough understanding of risk factors for transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the etiologic agent. Institutions of higher education present unique challenges for controlling disease spread because of features inherent to these settings. Our objective was to determine risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among a university student population in the northeastern USA during the spring and fall 2021 semesters, using the case-control study design. Cases were defined as students with a newly diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection, detected either through the robust PCR-based surveillance testing program on campus or through healthcare testing if symptoms compatible with COVID-19 were present. Controls were defined as students with negative SARS-CoV-2 status, based on consistently negative PCR results at the time of selection. A comprehensive questionnaire was administered to each student enrolled in the study, covering a broad range of campus life activities. A total of 446 cases and 1,185 controls were included in this study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that recent party attendance (adjusted OR = 2.3, p < 0.0001), recently visiting a bar (aOR = 1.6, p = 0.007), living in a campus residence hall (aOR = 1.6, p = 0.001), fraternity/sorority membership (aOR = 1.8, p = 0.002), and recent travel (aOR = 1.3, p = 0.04) were associated with being a COVID-19 case. Having an on-campus job was negatively associated with being a COVID-19 case (aOR = 0.6, p = 0.0003). Among cases, the most commonly reported symptoms were cough (43.9%), fatigue (38.1%), and sore throat (30.3%). These findings can be used to inform the development of COVID-19 mitigation strategies and public health outreach efforts in university settings, thus reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission among students and helping to preserve the vital education and research missions of these institutions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: COVID-19; Case-control study; SARS-CoV-2; epidemiology; public health; risk factors.