Changing risk factors for developing SARS-CoV-2 infection from Delta to Omicron

Hunter, Paul ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5608-6144 and Brainard, Julii (2024) Changing risk factors for developing SARS-CoV-2 infection from Delta to Omicron. PLoS One. ISSN 1932-6203 (In Press)

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: One of the few studies to estimate infection risk with SARS-CoV-2 in the general population was the UK Office of National Statistics Infection Survey. This survey provided data that allowed us to describe and interpret apparent risk factors for testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 in a period when variants and COVID-19 controls experienced large changes. METHOD: The ONS published estimates of likelihood of individuals testing positive in two week monitoring periods between 21st November 2021 and 7th May 2022, relating this positivity to social and behavioural factors. We applied meta-regression to these estimates of likelihood of testing positive to determine whether the monitored potential risk factors remained constant during the pandemic. RESULTS: Some risk factors had consistent relationship with risk of infection (always protective or always linked to higher risk, throughout monitoring period). Other risk factors had variable relationship with risk of infection, with changes seeming to especially correlate with the emergence of Omicron BA.2 dominance. These variable factors were mask wearing habits, history of foreign travel, household size, working status (retired or not) and contact with children or persons age over 70. CONCLUSION: Relevance of some risk factors to likelihood of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 may relate to reinfection risk, variant infectiousness and status of social distancing regulations.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Water Security Research Centre Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	04 Mar 2024 18:34
Last Modified:	30 Apr 2024 14:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/94505
DOI:

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