SARS-Cov-2 Infection in Central North Carolina: Protocol for a Population-Based Longitudinal Cohort Study and Preliminary Participant Results

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Citation

Miller, Elyse; Law, Elle; Ajeen, Rawan; Karasik, Jaclyn; Mendoza, Carmen; Abernathy, Haley A.; Garrett, Haley E.; King, Elise; Wallace, John; & Zelek, Michael, et al. (2021). SARS-Cov-2 Infection in Central North Carolina: Protocol for a Population-Based Longitudinal Cohort Study and Preliminary Participant Results. PLOS ONE, 16(10), e0259070. PMCID: PMC8544868

Abstract

Public health surveillance systems likely underestimate the true prevalence and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to limited access to testing and the high proportion of subclinical infections in community-based settings. This ongoing prospective, observational study aimed to generate accurate estimates of the prevalence and incidence of, and risk factors for, SARS-CoV-2 infection among residents of a central North Carolina county. From this cohort, we collected survey data and nasal swabs every two weeks and venous blood specimens every month. Nasal swabs were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus (evidence of active infection), and serum specimens for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies (evidence of prior infection). As of June 23, 2021, we have enrolled a total of 153 participants from a county with an estimated 76,285 total residents. The anticipated study duration is at least 24 months, pending the evolution of the pandemic. Study data are being shared on a monthly basis with North Carolina state health authorities and future analyses aim to compare study data to state-wide metrics over time. Overall, the use of a probability-based sampling design and a well-characterized cohort will enable collection of critical data that can be used in planning and policy decisions for North Carolina and may be informative for other states with similar demographic characteristics.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259070

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2021

Journal Title

PLOS ONE

Author(s)

Miller, Elyse
Law, Elle
Ajeen, Rawan
Karasik, Jaclyn
Mendoza, Carmen
Abernathy, Haley A.
Garrett, Haley E.
King, Elise
Wallace, John
Zelek, Michael
Edwards, Jessie K.
Xiong, Khou
Beatty, Cherese
Fleischauer, Aaron
Ciccone, Emily J.
Shook-Sa, Bonnie E.
Aiello, Allison E.
Boyce, Ross M.

Article Type

Regular

PMCID

PMC8544868

Data Set/Study

Chatham County Community Cohort

Continent/Country

United States of America

State

North Carolina

ORCiD

Boyce, R - 0000-0002-9489-6324
Aiello - 0000-0001-7029-2537
Edwards, J -0000-0002-1741-335X