Risk Factors for Sars-Cov-2 Transmission in Close Contacts of Adults at High Risk of Infection Due to Occupation: Results From the Contact Tracing Strategy of the CoVIDA Epidemiological Surveillance Study in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2020-2021

Authors

Andrea Ramírez Varela
Sandra Contreras-Arrieta
Guillermo Tamayo-Cabeza
Leonardo Salas Zapata
Yuldor Caballero-Díaz
Luis Jorge Hernández Florez
Andrés Patiño Benavidez
Rachid Laajaj
Fernando De la Hoz
Giancarlo Buitrago Gutierrez
Silvia Restrepo
Eduardo Behrentz

Publication Date

12-23-2022

Journal

BMJ Open

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in close contacts of adults at high risk of infection due to occupation, participants of the CoVIDA study, in Bogotá D.C., Colombia.

SETTING: The CoVIDA study was the largest COVID-19 intensified sentinel epidemiological surveillance study in Colombia thus far, performing over 60 000 RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study implemented a contact tracing strategy (via telephone call) to support traditional surveillance actions performed by the local health authority.

PARTICIPANTS: Close contacts of participants from the CoVIDA study.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: SARS-CoV-2 testing results were obtained (RT-PCR with CoVIDA or self-reported results). The secondary attack rate (SAR) was calculated using contacts and primary cases features.

RESULTS: The CoVIDA study performed 1257 contact tracing procedures on primary cases. A total of 5551 close contacts were identified and 1050 secondary cases (21.1%) were found. The highest SAR was found in close contacts: (1) who were spouses (SAR=32.7%; 95% CI 29.1% to 36.4%), (2) of informally employed or unemployed primary cases (SAR=29.1%; 95% CI 25.5% to 32.8%), (3) of symptomatic primary cases (SAR of 25.9%; 95% CI 24.0% to 27.9%) and (4) living in households with more than three people (SAR=22.2%; 95% CI 20.7% to 23.8%). The spouses (OR 3.85; 95% CI 2.60 to 5.70), relatives (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.33 to 2.70) and close contacts of a symptomatic primary case (OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.24 to 1.77) had an increased risk of being secondary cases compared with non-relatives and close contacts of an asymptomatic index case, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Contact tracing strategies must focus on households with socioeconomic vulnerabilities to guarantee isolation and testing to stop the spread of the disease.

Keywords

Adult, Humans, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Contact Tracing, Colombia, COVID-19 Testing, Risk Factors, Occupations