Results of the COVID-19 CARTaGENE survey

 

The CARTaGENE’s COVID-19 online survey was sent to more than 33,000 participants of the Quebec

population-based cohort CARTaGENE in early June 2020. The invitation was valid for 4 weeks and the

questionnaire was closed in early July.

 

The requested information concerned: (i) the existence of manifestations suggesting of a COVID-19 infection, the

tests performed and the results, the evolution, (ii) the medical history, (iii) the socio-demographic factors and

potential risk factors, (iv) the consequences of the pandemic on everyday life.

 

Similar results to those observed in Quebec

As of July 6th, 2020, 8,129 participants completed the questionnaire. Among them, 8% were tested for COVID-19

(649 participants) of which 6.3% (41) were positive. These results are similar to those observed in Quebec (7.3%

of the population tested and 7.4% of positive cases among the tested). The average time to receive a test result was

3 days. Three people were hospitalized for a COVID-19 infection, but none of them were hospitalized in the

intensive care unit.

 

Medical workers and people who had a contact with a COVID-positive individual are the most tested and

the most positive.

The participants living in Montreal (epicenter of the COVID-19 infection), living in an apartment/condominium,

with a chronic respiratory disease and exposed to potential risks of infection (healthcare worker, contact with a

COVID-19 case) were more frequently tested.

Among the tested (more than 600 participants), medical workers and people who had contact with a COVIDpositive

individual were the two largest groups (32% and 42%, respectively). They were also the two groups with

the highest rate of positivity (17% and 13%, respectively). The other participants were tested after the occurrence

of one of the four symptoms compatible with COVID-19 identified by the Ministère de la santé et des services

sociaux (MSSS): fever (>38°C); cough (recent or chronic with exacerbation); respiratory difficulty; sudden

anosmia (loss of smell) without nasal obstruction, with or without ageusia (loss of taste).

A significant proportion of the participants with COVID-related symptoms were not tested.

It is worth noting that 7.6% of the participants reported having one of the 4 symptoms compatible with COVID-

19 and were not tested.

 

A particular symptomatology

The factors strongly associated with being positive were anosmia, fever and headache. Symptoms such as sinusitis,

otitis, sore throat, runny nose, or wet cough, which could be reported during the test, were not associated with test

positivity.

 

A more difficult access to healthcare but more widespread use of virtual consultations.

One-third of the participants experienced a decrease in access to health services. However, it is interesting to note

that virtual medical consultations were widely used.

 

A greater socio-economic and psychological impact for women and younger participants.

While the impact of the first two months of the pandemic remains overall limited, there was an increase in food

consumption, a decrease in physical activity and a slight increase in anxiety among women. There was a slight

income decrease among younger participants.

 

A change of habits.

The majority of the participants changed their lifestyle habits, in particular by limiting their use of public

transportation.

 

In conclusion, the main findings from the first months of the pandemic are: (i) The pre-existing structure of

the CARTaGENE population-based cohort has demonstrated its role as a Public Health surveillance system during

this pandemic by collecting and analyzing public health relevant results in a very short period; (ii) There appeared

to be a lack of test accessibility for people with symptoms compatible with COVID-19 during the first wave; (iii)

The 4 main symptoms selected by the Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux (MSSS) seem to be quite

appropriate for the indication to carry out a screening test; (iv) Access to healthcare was severely disrupted during

lockdown, but remote consultations compensated for this effect, and a specific effort should be considered by the

health system in anticipation of a possible second wave; (v) Socio-economic and psychological impacts appear to

be moderate for the moment but should be monitored in the coming months.

 

Study reference:

Epidemiological and socio-economic characteristics of the COVID-19 spring outbreak in Quebec, Canada: A

population-based study (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.26.20182675v1)