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Researchers from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and Vilnius University presented the first results of the population survey on Friday.
“I would like to remind you that this research took place from July 10. and ended last night. The last test was conducted in Vilnius. Today I will present the most recent results that we have, but there was not much time to analyze them in depth,” said Mindaugas Stankūnas, a professor at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU).
This study was conducted by LSMU in conjunction with Vilnius University.
The study revealed that the incidence of the coronavirus in Lithuania is less than 3%.
Tests in six municipalities showed that the recurrence of the coronavirus (COVID-19) ranged between 1.3 and 2.8 percent. population.
The population tests with rapid serological tests in the municipalities of the cities of Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda, the districts of Ukmergė, Tauragė and Zarasai lasted two months, starting on July 10. until September 10. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of the population with coronavirus infection in Lithuania based on data from specific antibody tests.
Invitations to investigate were sent by email to nearly 22,000. population over 18 years of age. The study participants were randomly selected.
“Permission has been obtained from the Lithuanian Bioethics Committee for this research. From the beginning of the study, we expected that the number of participants in the study could be small, since summer is not considered the most appropriate time to conduct such studies. For this reason, we have sent many more invitations. A total of 21 thousand invitations were sent. 830 inhabitants. These invitations are sent in several stages, “reported M. Stankūnas.
3,000 people agreed to participate in the study. 87 people, that is, one of the seven guests.
Kaunas has the highest incidence of coronavirus
The coordinator of the population study indicated the differences in the incidence of coronavirus between municipalities.
According to him, a total of 535 people were surveyed in Vilnius, of which 7 received positive responses, that is, the prevalence reaches 1.31 percent.
460 people agreed to participate in Kaunas, including 13 positive responses. Prevalence: 2.83 percent.
In Klaipeda, according to M. Stankūnas, the activity is the lowest. 370 residents of Klaipeda agreed to participate in the study, 6 positive responses were received. Prevalence: 1.62 percent.
The Ukmergė district is one of the busiest. The study involved 689 people and received 10 positive responses. Prevalence: 1.45 percent.
In Tauragė district, 577 people participated in the survey, 10 positive responses were received. Prevalence: 1.73 percent.
456 people participated in the Zarasai district survey, 12 positive responses were received. Prevalence: 2.63 percent.
Thus, the preliminary results of the study show significant territorial inequalities in COVID-19 seropositivity: the percentage of the seropositive population ranged from 1.31 in Vilnius to 2.83 in Kaunas. Two-thirds of the HIV-positive subjects did not experience specific COVID-19 symptoms.
Additional questions in the study
M.Stankūnas explained the order in which the tests were performed: “The registrant came to one of the six specified medical institutions. The test itself was presented first, then a capillary blood sample was taken. A rapid test was used for the study. The test result took 10 minutes to clear. At that point, the subject was asked to answer a series of questions. “
An analysis of the population that received positive test scores found that:
a) 34.5 percent. suffer from one or more chronic diseases;
b) 3.4 percent. you are currently experiencing specific coronavirus symptoms;
c) 31.8 percent. from March 1. experienced at least one coronavirus symptom on the date of the study;
d) 25.9 percent. had previously been tested for coronavirus infection and almost half (40.0%) of those (who had already been tested) were positive;
e) 13.8 percent. have people in your environment who have been diagnosed with this infection.
M. Stankūnas also reported that 29.3% had immunoglobulin M (IgM). and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in 67.2% of the subjects. 3.5 percent of the subjects had both antibodies.
“If we look at the main sociodemographic characteristics, we see that 2.3% of women have antibodies, compared to 1.2% of men,” said the LSMU professor.
The study divided two age groups: up to 60 years. and 60 m. and older. The prevalence among the youngest is 2.1 percent, while among the older people in the group it is 1.6 percent.
Consideration should be given to repeating the study.
“The ultimate goal was to investigate 6,000. individuals, but despite our efforts, fewer people participated. As for the size of the sample, it is sufficient, but their statistical calculations will have less precision ”, informed the coordinator of the population survey.
The LSMU professor also added: “Over the course of the investigation, we observed a change in the percentage as the number of responses increased. We noticed it after gathering around 2,000. people, the percentage changed little. If we had collected 6 thousand. subjects, the results are likely to be more reliable. But I don’t think they are significantly different. “
M. Stankūnas stated that repeating the investigation is an idea to consider for now.
