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Altitude and SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the First Pandemic Wave in Spain

Author

Listed:
  • Jesús Castilla

    (Instituto de Salud Pública de Navarra, 31003 Pamplona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Navarre Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain)

  • Ujué Fresán

    (Instituto de Salud Pública de Navarra, 31003 Pamplona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Instituto de Salud Global (ISGlobal), 08036 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Camino Trobajo-Sanmartín

    (Navarre Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
    Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain)

  • Marcela Guevara

    (Instituto de Salud Pública de Navarra, 31003 Pamplona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Navarre Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain)

Abstract

After the first pandemic wave, a nationwide survey assessed the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Spain and found notable differences among provinces whose causes remained unclear. This ecological study aimed to analyze the association between environmental and demographic factors and SARS-CoV-2 infection by province. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies by province was obtained from a nationwide representative survey performed in June 2020, after the first pandemic wave in Spain. Linear regression was used in the analysis. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies of the 50 provinces ranged from 0.2% to 13.6%. The altitude, which ranged from 5 to 1131 m, explained nearly half of differences in seroprevalence ( R 2 = 0.47, p < 0.001). The seroprevalence in people residing in provinces above the median altitude (215 m) was three-fold higher (6.5% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.001). In the multivariate linear regression, the addition of population density significantly improved the predictive value of the altitude ( R 2 = 0.55, p < 0.001). Every 100 m of altitude increase and 100 inhabitants/km 2 of increase in population density, the seroprevalence rose 0.84 and 0.63 percentage points, respectively. Environmental conditions related to higher altitude in winter–spring, such as lower temperatures and absolute humidity, may be relevant to SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Places with such adverse conditions may require additional efforts for pandemic control.

Suggested Citation

  • Jesús Castilla & Ujué Fresán & Camino Trobajo-Sanmartín & Marcela Guevara, 2021. "Altitude and SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the First Pandemic Wave in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-8, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2578-:d:510624
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ennio Cascetta & Ilaria Henke & Luigi Di Francesco, 2021. "The Effects of Air Pollution, Sea Exposure and Altitude on COVID-19 Hospitalization Rates in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-11, January.
    2. Ploutarchos Tzampoglou & Dimitrios Loukidis, 2020. "Investigation of the Importance of Climatic Factors in COVID-19 Worldwide Intensity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-25, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Esteban Ortiz-Prado & Katherine Simbaña-Rivera & Raul Fernandez-Naranjo & Jorge Eduardo Vásconez & Aquiles R. Henriquez-Trujillo & Alexander Paolo Vallejo-Janeta & Ismar A. Rivera-Olivero & Tannya Loz, 2022. "SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load Analysis at Low and High Altitude: A Case Study from Ecuador," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-10, June.
    2. Khalid Hajissa & Md Asiful Islam & Siti Asma Hassan & Abdul Rahman Zaidah & Nabilah Ismail & Zeehaida Mohamed, 2022. "Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-14, June.

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