Age and sex distribution trends of SARS-CoV-2 infections: Insights from three epidemic waves in Puducherry, India.

IF 1.2 4区医学 Q4 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Journal of Infection in Developing Countries Pub Date : 2025-08-31 DOI:10.3855/jidc.20689

Lourduraj John De Britto, Arya Rahul, Dinesh Sundaram, Balakrishnan Vijayakumar, Thirumal Sankari, Muthukumaravel Subramanian, Raja Jeyapal Dinesh, Philip Raj Abraham, Panneer Devaraju, Yasin Nazeer, Ayyanar Elango, Balasubramaniyan Ramalingam, Kulandaisamy Athisaya Mary, Suchi Tyagi, Rituraj Niranjan, Paramasivan Rajaiah, Mayilsamy Muniaraj, Narendran Pradeep Kumar, Irudayaraj Geetha, Ananganallur Nagarajan Shriram, Adinarayanan Srividya, Vijesh Sreedhar Kuttiatt, Ashwani Kumar

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: This study analyzed the age and sex distribution of COVID-19 patients during the initial three COVID-19 waves in Puducherry, India, from August 2020 to March 2022, to understand the distribution of infection across different demographic groups.

Methods: The disease surveillance program conducted at ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre processed 79,705 Throat Swab/Nasal Swab (TSNS) samples received from various institutions in Puducherry through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP). Real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) was performed following approved protocols.

Results: Test positivity rates during the second (14.6%) and third waves (25.1%) were significantly higher than the first wave (11.4%). In the first wave, children (p < 0.001) and elderly individuals (p = 0.017) had a lower risk of testing positive than adults. However, in the second wave, elderly individuals had a 1.12 (95% CI: 1.03 - 1.23) times greater risk of contracting COVID-19 (p = 0.013). Children had a lower risk of testing positive across all waves (p < 0.001). A significant sex difference was noted only in the first wave, with males having a 1.27 (1.18-1.37) times greater chance of being COVID-19 positive. The mean age of female patients was significantly younger than male patients in the third wave (p = 0.008). The third wave showed an increasing trend of infection across all age groups and sexes, especially among younger individuals.

Conclusions: The study highlights an increasing trend of infections across all age groups and sexes during the third wave. Micro-epidemiological analyses are crucial for developing targeted intervention strategies that address age and sex demographics effectively.

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SARS-CoV-2感染的年龄和性别分布趋势：来自印度普杜切里三波流行的见解

本研究分析了2020年8月至2022年3月印度普杜切里市前三波COVID-19患者的年龄和性别分布，以了解不同人口群体的感染分布。方法：icmr病媒控制研究中心开展的疾病监测项目处理了通过综合疾病监测项目（IDSP）从普杜切里各机构获得的79,705份咽拭子/鼻拭子（TSNS）样本。实时逆转录聚合酶链反应（rRT-PCR）按照批准的方案进行。结果：第二波和第三波检测阳性率分别为14.6%和25.1%，明显高于第一波（11.4%）。在第一波中，儿童（p < 0.001）和老年人（p = 0.017）的检测阳性风险低于成年人。然而，在第二波中，老年人感染COVID-19的风险增加了1.12倍（95% CI: 1.03 - 1.23）（p = 0.013）。儿童在所有波中检测呈阳性的风险较低（p < 0.001）。仅在第一波中发现了显著的性别差异，男性感染COVID-19的几率是男性的1.27倍（1.18-1.37倍）。第三波女性患者的平均年龄明显低于男性患者（p = 0.008）。第三波感染在所有年龄组和性别中呈上升趋势，特别是在年轻人中。结论：该研究强调了第三波期间所有年龄组和性别的感染呈上升趋势。微观流行病学分析对于制定有效解决年龄和性别人口统计问题的有针对性的干预战略至关重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Infection in Developing Countries INFECTIOUS DISEASES-

CiteScore

3.70

自引率

5.30%

发文量

239

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries (JIDC) is an international journal, intended for the publication of scientific articles from Developing Countries by scientists from Developing Countries. JIDC is an independent, on-line publication with an international editorial board. JIDC is open access with no cost to view or download articles and reasonable cost for publication of research artcles, making JIDC easily availiable to scientists from resource restricted regions.