Seroprevalence of Sindbis virus and associated risk factors in northern Sweden

• Published in: Epidemiology and Infection
• Main Authors: AHLM, C., ELIASSON, M., VAPALAHTI, O., EVANDER, M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2013
• Subjects: Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0950268813002239; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0950268813002239

SUMMARY Mosquito-borne Sindbis virus (SINV) cause disease characterized by rash, fever and arthritis which often leads to long-lasting arthralgia. To determine the seroprevalence of SINV and associated risk factors in northern Sweden, a randomly selected population aged between 25 and 74 years were invited to join the MONICA study. Serum from 1611 samples were analysed for specific IgG antibodies. Overall, 2·9% had IgG against SINV. More men (3·7%) than women (2·0%) were SINV seropositive ( P = 0·047) and it was more common in subjects with a lower educational level ( P = 0·013) and living in small, rural communities ( P < 0·001). Seropositivity was associated with higher waist circumference ( P = 0·1), elevated diastolic blood pressure ( P = 0·037), and history of a previous stroke ( P = 0·011). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusting for known risk factors for stroke, seropositivity for SINV was an independent predictor of having had a stroke (odds ratio 4·3, 95% confidence interval 1·4–13·0, P = 0·011).