A H-UNCOVER vizsgálat eredményei és hatása a magyarországi járványkezelésre
Authors: Merkely Béla , Fülöp Gábor Áron , Kosztin Annamária , Vokó Zoltán 
Published: October 2021

Összefoglaló. A HUNgarian COronaVirus disease-19 Epidemiological
Research (H-UNCOVER) vizsgálat egy országos szintű reprezentatív felmérés volt,
melyet az Innovációs és Technológiai Minisztérium (ITM) támogatásával végzett el
a négy orvostudományi képzést folytató magyar egyetem a Központi Statisztikai
Hivatallal (KSH) együttműködve. A vizsgálat célja az volt, hogy egy
reprezentatív mintán keresztül felmérje a magyar lakosság SARS-CoV-2
átfertőzöttségét, és támaszul szolgáljon a koronavírus első hulláma kapcsán
meghozott restriktív intézkedések utáni lazításra. A világszinten is jelentős
méretű vizsgálat alacsony átfertőzöttségi arányt mutatott, így nemcsak a
restriktív intézkedések hatékonyságát mutatta meg, de egy biztos járványügyi
támaszt jelentett a gazdaság újranyitásának tervezéséhez.

Summary. Close to the end of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
in Europe, many countries started to consider the possibility of reopening their
economy, and lifting some of the containment measures introduced in the previous
weeks. Such a decision is utterly complicated, as reopening might easily lead to
an increase in active SARS-CoV-2 cases, but a delay puts an almost unbearable
burden on the country’s economy. The objective of the HUNgarian COronaVirus
disease-19 Epidemiological Research (H-UNCOVER) study was to conduct a
cross-sectional survey among the Hungarian population to estimate the total
number of infectious cases and the prevalence of prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure, and
by using these data help to plan an exit strategy. The H-UNCOVER study was
performed by the 4 medical universities in Hungary (Semmelweis University,
University of Pécs, University of Debrecen and University of Szeged) with the
help of the Central Statistical Office, Hungarian National Ambulance Service,
Governmental offices and General Practitioners.

The study was initiated 50 days after the Hungarian restrictions and performed
between 1-16 May. With the help of the Central Statistical Office, 17,787 people
were selected to represent the Hungarian population of 14 years or older living
in private households (n=8,283,810). SARS-CoV-2 PCR and blood tests were
performed to assess the prevalence of active infection and seropositivity. These
tests were accompanied by a questionnaire about symptoms, comorbidities, and
COVID-19 contacts. More specifically, questions included topics about home
office, going abroad after the 1st of March, or possible contacts with COVID-19
positive, or quarantined individuals, as well as symptoms which might be due to
COVID-19 infection.

Altogether 67.7% of the selected individuals participated in some form in the
study, which is an exceptionally high number compared to such studies. 10,502
individuals had SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing and 10,501 people had a blood test to
assess SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels. Of the tested individuals, three had positive PCR
and 69 had positive serological tests. Population estimates of the number of
SARS-CoV-2 infections and seropositivity were 2,421 and 56,439, respectively,
thus the active infection rate (2.9/10,000, 95% confidence interval:
0-6.7/10,000) and the prevalence of prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure (68/10,000, 95%
confidence interval: 50-86/10,000) were low. A total of 10,474 individuals
completed the questionnaire. Self-reported loss of smell or taste and body aches
were significantly more frequent among those with SARS-CoV-2.

Our study suggested that the early containment measures initiated by the
Government of Hungary were effective in preventing the escalation of the first
wave of COVID-19 in Hungary. We also found that the highest prevalence of the
disease was in Budapest, and those who attended their workplace on a regular
basis, travelled abroad after the 1st of March, or contacted with a COVID-19
positive or quarantined individual had a higher tendency to become infected. In
conclusion, the H-UNCOVER study supported the exit strategy after the first wave
of COVID-19 in Hungary.