Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Underreporting of Cases in the COVID-19 Outbreak of Borriana (Spain) During Mass Gathering Events in March 2020: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Version 1 : Received: 25 June 2024 / Approved: 26 June 2024 / Online: 27 June 2024 (05:46:44 CEST)

How to cite: Domènech-Montoliy, S.; Pac-Sa, M. R.; Sala-Trull, D.; Del Rio-González, A.; Sanchéz-Urbano, M.; Satorres-Martinez, P.; Blasco-Gari, R.; Casanova-Suarez, J.; Gil-Fortuño, M.; López-Diago, L.; Notari-Rodríguez, C.; Pérez-Olaso, O.; Romeu-Garcia, M. A.; Ruiz-Puig, R.; Aleixandre-Gorriz, I.; Domènech-León, C.; Arnedo-Pena, A. Underreporting of Cases in the COVID-19 Outbreak of Borriana (Spain) During Mass Gathering Events in March 2020: A Cross-Sectional Study.. Preprints 2024, 2024061882. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202406.1882.v1 Domènech-Montoliy, S.; Pac-Sa, M. R.; Sala-Trull, D.; Del Rio-González, A.; Sanchéz-Urbano, M.; Satorres-Martinez, P.; Blasco-Gari, R.; Casanova-Suarez, J.; Gil-Fortuño, M.; López-Diago, L.; Notari-Rodríguez, C.; Pérez-Olaso, O.; Romeu-Garcia, M. A.; Ruiz-Puig, R.; Aleixandre-Gorriz, I.; Domènech-León, C.; Arnedo-Pena, A. Underreporting of Cases in the COVID-19 Outbreak of Borriana (Spain) During Mass Gathering Events in March 2020: A Cross-Sectional Study.. Preprints 2024, 2024061882. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202406.1882.v1

Abstract

Knowing the number of cases of an epidemic is the first function of epidemiological surveillance. An important underreporting of cases was observed in many places during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. To estimate this underreporting in the COVID-19 outbreak of Borriana (Valencia Community, Spain), during “Falles” mass gathering events in March 2020, a cross-sectional study was performed in June 2020 querying public health register. Logistic regression models were used. From a total of 468 symptomatic COVID-19 cases diagnosed in the outbreak by anti-SARS-CoV-2 serology, 36 cases were reported (7.7%), thus an underreporting of 92.3% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 89.5%-94.6%), 13 unreported cases for every reported case. Only positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction cases were predominantly reported due to a limited testing capacity and following a national protocol. Significant factors associated with underreporting were no medical assistance for COVID-19 disease, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 10.83 (95% CI 2.49-47.11), no chronic illness, aOR=2.81 (95% CI 1.28-6.17), middle and lower social classes, aOR=3.12 (95% CI 1.42-6.85), younger age, aOR=0.97 (95% CI 0.94-0.99), shorter duration of illness, aOR=0.98 (95% CI 0.97-0.99). To improve surveillance, studies of representative population samples are necessary to estimate the magnitude of future epidemics, and novel approaches are recommended.

Keywords

COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; underreporting; cross-sectional; epidemiological surveillance; factors

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services

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