Creation of a pandemic memory by tracing COVID-19 infections and immunity in Luxembourg (CON-VINCE)
Authors: Tsurkalenko Olena , Bulaev Dmitry , O’Sullivan Marc Paul , Snoeck Chantal , Ghosh Soumyabrata , Kolodkin Alexey , Rommes Basile , Gawron Piotr , Moreno Carlos Vega , Gomes Clarissa P. C. , Kaysen Anne , Ohnmacht Jochen , Schröder Valerie E. , Pavelka Lukas , Meyers Guilherme Ramos , Pauly Laure , Pauly Claire , Hanff Anne-Marie , Meyrath Max , Leist Anja , Sandt Estelle , Aguayo Gloria A. , Perquin Magali , Gantenbein Manon , Abdelrahman Tamir , Klucken Jochen , Satagopam Venkata , Hilger Christiane , Turner Jonathan , Vaillant Michel , Fritz Joëlle V. , Ollert Markus , Krüger Rejko ,   on behalf of the CON-VINCE consortium and the ORCHESTRA working group, Acharya Geeta , Alper Pinar , Ammerlaan Wim , Ancien François , Assele-Kama Ariane , Bahlawane Christelle , Beaumont Katy , Beaupain Nadia , Beckers Lucrèce , Bellora Camille , Betsou Fay , Biver Luc , Boly Sandie , Brenner Dirk , Cauchie Henry-Michel , Charalambous Eleftheria , Charpentier Emilie , Coibion Estelle , Coito Sylvie , Collart Delphine , Counson Manuel , De Witt Brian , Di Pasquale Antonelle , Domingues Olivia , Dording Claire , Dourson Jean-Luc , Dragomir Bianca , Fautsch Tessy , Ferrand Jean-Yves , Ferrandon Thibault , Lopes Ana Festas , Fournier Guillaume , Georges Laura , Gidenne Stéphane , Glaab Enrico , Ramos Borja Gomez , Gorgogietas Vyron , Graas Jérôme , Groues Valentin , Gu Wei , Hamot Gael , Hansen Maxime , Hansen Linda , Hefele Lisa , Heirendt Laurent , Hemedan Ahmed , Henry Estelle , Henry Margaux , Herkenne Eve , Herzinger Sascha , Huiart Laetitia , Hundt Alexander , Hübschen Judith , Iserentant Gilles , Jägi Philipp , Khurmin Piyapong , Klein Fédéric , Klein Tommy , Kler Stéphanie , Lambert Pauline , Lebioda Jacek Jaroslaw , Lehmann Sabine , Leick Marie , Lemaire Morgane , Lumley Andrew , Lutz Annika , Loureiro João Manuel , Marchese Monica , Marques Tainà , Massart François , May Patrick , Minelli Maura , Mousel Alessandra , Munsch Maeva , Mériaux Sophie , Mühlschlegel Friedrich , Neumann Mareike , Nguyen Trang , Nicolai Beatrice , Ogorzaly Leslie , Olesky Christiane , Penny Christian , Pexaras Achilleas , di Pinto Palma , Pirard Marie France , Plesseria Jean-Marc , Rauschenberger Armin , Remark Lucie , Rodriguez Antonio , Rump Kirsten , Santos Bruno , Sausy Aurélie , Schmitt Margaux , Schmitt Christiane , Schneider Reinhard , Schumacher Serge , Schweicher Alexandra , Seal Sneeha , Servais Jean-Yves , Simon Florian , Skrozic Amna , Sokolowska Kate , Stute Lara , Thien Hermann , Toll Stéphane , Toukourou Noua , Trefois Christophe , Trouet Johanna , Trung Nguyen , Esteves Daniela Valoura , Verschueren Charlène , Vyas Maharshi , Vögele Claus , Walczak Cécile , Wang Xinhui , Wauters Femke , Weber Bernard , Weibel Emilie , Zamboni Tania 
Published: February 2024

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic swift implementation of research cohorts was key. While many studies focused exclusively on infected individuals, population based cohorts are essential for the follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 impact on public health. Here we present the CON-VINCE cohort, estimate the point and period prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, reflect on the spread within the Luxembourgish population, examine immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination, and ascertain the impact of the pandemic on population psychological wellbeing at a nationwide level.

Methods

A representative sample of the adult Luxembourgish population was enrolled. The cohort was followed-up for twelve months. SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR and serology were conducted at each sampling visit. The surveys included detailed epidemiological, clinical, socio-economic, and psychological data.

Results

One thousand eight hundred sixty-five individuals were followed over seven visits (April 2020—June 2021) with the final weighted period prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection of 15%. The participants had similar risks of being infected regardless of their gender, age, employment status and education level. Vaccination increased the chances of IgG-S positivity in infected individuals. Depression, anxiety, loneliness and stress levels increased at a point of study when there were strict containment measures, returning to baseline afterwards.

Conclusion

The data collected in CON-VINCE study allowed obtaining insights into the infection spread in Luxembourg, immunity build-up and the impact of the pandemic on psychological wellbeing of the population. Moreover, the study holds great translational potential, as samples stored at the biobank, together with self-reported questionnaire information, can be exploited in further research.

Trial registration

Trial registration number: NCT04379297, 10 April 2020.