Epidemiology and Health

COVID-19: Original Article

Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-COV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART): findings from national representative sample: Jina Han, Hye Jin Baek, Eunbi Noh, Kyuhyun Yoon, Jung Ae Kim, Sukhyun Ryu, Kay O Lee, No Yai Park, Eunok Jung, Sangil Kim, Hyukmin Lee, Yoo-Sung Hwang, Jaehun Jung, Hun Jae Lee, Sung-il Cho, Sangcheol Oh, Migyeong Kim, Chang-Mo Oh, Byengchul Yu, Young-Seoub Hong, Keonyeop Kim, Sun Jae Jung, Mi Ah Han, Moo-Sik Lee, Jung-Jeung Lee, Young Hwangbo, Hyeon Woo Yim, Yu-Mi Kim, Joongyub Lee, Weon-Young Lee, Jae-Hyun Park, Sungsoo Oh, Heui Sug Jo, Hyeongsu Kim, Gilwon Kang, Hae-Sung Nam, Ju-Hyung Lee, Gyung-Jae Oh, Min-Ho Shin, Soyeon Ryu, Tae-Yoon Hwang, Soon-Woo Park, Sang Kyu Kim, Roma Seol, Ki-Soo Park, Su Young Kim, Jun-wook Kwon, Sung Soon Kim, Byoungguk Kim, June-Woo Lee, Eun Young Jang, Ah-Ra Kim, Jeonghyun Nam, The Korea Community Health Survey Group, Soon Young Lee, Dong-Hyun Kim; Epidemiol Health. 2023;45:e2023075. Published online August 17, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2023075

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) 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 antibodies to spike proteins (anti-S) and antibodies to nucleocapsid proteins (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 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-SEROSMART 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.

Summary

Korean summary
인구집단을 기반으로 하여 대표성 있는 표본을 추출하여 COVID-19 항체유병률 조사를 전국적으로 수행함으로 지역사회 단위에서 지속적으로 모니터링할 수 있는 COVID-19 감시체계 구축의 기반을 마련하였다. 2022년 8월 우리나라 국민의 대부분이 COVID-19에 대한 항체를 보유하고 있었고 인구 3명 중 1명은 미확진 감염자로 추정되었다.

Key Message
The K-SEROSMART represents the first nationwide, community-based seroepidemiologic survey of COVID-19. In August 2022, most of the Korean people had antibodies to COVID-19, and one in three people was estimated to have an unreported infection. This study lays the foundation for a surveillance system to continuously monitor transmission at the community level and the response to COVID-19.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Infection-mediated immune response in SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection and implications for next-generation COVID-19 vaccine development
Sho Miyamoto, Tadaki Suzuki
Vaccine.2024; 42(6): 1401. CrossRef

Original Article

Test-retest reliability of health behavior items in the Community Health Survey in South Korea: Soo Jeong Kim, Jin A Han, Young Hwa Kim, Bo Youl Choi, Su Young Kim, Hun Je Lee, In Hwan Oh, Sung-il Cho, Jakyoung Lee, Soon Young Lee; Epidemiol Health. 2015;37:e2015045. Published online October 20, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2015045

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143 Download
7 Web of Science
6 Crossref

Abstract Summary PDF

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Responses to health-related items on the Community Health Survey (CHS) provide evidence that is used to develop community-based health policy. This study aimed to assess the test-retest reliability of selected health behavioral items on the CHS according to item category, response period, and response scale.

METHODS

A sample of 159 men and women 20 to 69 years of age participated in a test-retest with an interval of 14 to 21 days. A total of 28 items relating to smoking, alcohol consumption, diet and weight control, and mental health were selected. We evaluated the test-retest reliability of the items using kappa statistics.

RESULTS

Kappa values ranged from 0.44 to 0.93. Items concerning habits had higher kappa values (mean, 0.7; standard error, 0.05) than items concerning awareness or attitudes (p=0.012). The kappa value of items with two- to four-point scales was 0.63, which was higher than the value of 0.59 for items with scales involving five or more points, although this difference was not statistically significant. Different kappa values were observed for each reference period, but no statistically significant differences were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

The test-retest reliability of the CHS items that we studied was associated with item category. Further study of the relationship between item category and reliability in domains other than health behaviors is required.

Summary

Korean summary
이 연구는 지역사회건강조사의 건강행태 문항 중 28개 문항에 대하여 문항의 특성, 준거기간, 보기의 척도에 따라 조사-재조사 신뢰도의 차이를 분석하였다. 전체 문항의 카파값의 범위는 0.44-0.93이었다. 문항의 특성별로는 인지 또는 태도에 비해 습관에 관한 문항의 신뢰도가 높았으며, 보기의 척도가 5점 척도 이상에 비해 2-4점 척도의 신뢰도가 높음을 확인하였다.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Change in Denture Procedures after Implementation of National Health Insurance Coverage for the Elderly in Korea: A Nationwide Database
Ye Seol Lee, Juyeong Kim, Yoon Soo Choy, Eunkyong Kim, Jaehyun Yoo
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2021; 18(5): 2283. CrossRef
Influence of dental insurance coverage on access to preventive periodontal care in middle-aged and elderly populations: analysis of representative Korean Community Health Survey Data (2011–2015)
Young-Eun Jang, Chun-Bae Kim, Nam-Hee Kim
International Dental Journal.2019; 69(6): 445. CrossRef
Assessment of the validity and reliability of an urban household health expenditure (HHE) questionnaire in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Murallitharan Munisamy, Tharini Thanapalan, Pattaraporn Piwong, Alessio Panza, Sathirakorn Pongpanich
Journal of Health Research.2018; 32(1): 24. CrossRef
Effects of living alone versus with others and of housemate type on smoking, drinking, dietary habits, and physical activity among elderly people
Seungmin Jeong, Sung il Cho
Epidemiology and Health.2017; 39: e2017034. CrossRef
Tapering Practices of Strongman Athletes: Test-Retest Reliability Study
Paul W Winwood, Hayden J Pritchard, Justin WL Keogh
JMIR Research Protocols.2017; 6(10): e211. CrossRef
Low socioeconomic status and suicidal ideation among elderly individuals
Yeong Jun Ju, Eun-Cheol Park, Kyu-Tae Han, Jae Woo Choi, Jeong Lim Kim, Kyoung Hee Cho, Sohee Park
International Psychogeriatrics.2016; 28(12): 2055. CrossRef

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