| Cross-sectional case-control studies  

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Parkinson’s disease patients: a case-control study

The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on PD patients is yet to be determined.

Studies showed diverse prevalence and outcomes among PD patients. Assessing a precise approximation of the prevalence of COVID‐19 necessitates testing antibodies in people who are not symptomatic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 among PD patients who did not have the symptomatic infection. All PD patients who had visited Shohada‐e‐Tajrish University Hospital, a referral Movements Disorders center, in December 2020 were enrolled in the study. Patients who had the symptomatic infection with SARS‐CoV‐2 were excluded. A blood sample was taken to check IgG antibodies for SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG. Also, blood serum of healthy controls who did not have the symptomatic infection during the same time was checked for SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG. A total of 90 subjects who were identified with PD and 97 healthy controls were included in the study. About 25.56% of PD patients and 12.37% of controls tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG antibody, and these proportions were significantly different (P < 0.05). The authors concluded that PD patients can be more susceptible to Covid‐19 infection. However, more studies with higher sample sizes should be performed to confirm these results.

Salari M, et al. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2  in Parkinson’s Disease Patients: A Case-Control Study. Mov Disord. 2021 Mar 17. doi: 10.1002/mds.28580