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Global Seasonality of Human Coronaviruses: A Systematic Review

Sangshin Park1, Yeonjin Lee2,3, Ian C Michelow4,5

  • 1Graduate School of Urban Public Health, University of Seoul, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Open Forum Infectious Diseases
|November 18, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Human coronavirus (HCoV) infections peak globally in February, particularly during winter. Children show higher HCoV positivity rates compared to adults or mixed populations.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to understand human coronavirus (HCoV) seasonality.
  • Global patterns of HCoV infections require systematic investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically analyze the global seasonal patterns of human coronavirus (HCoV) infections.
  • To identify peak months for HCoV infections and periods of significant prevalence.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of articles from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL Plus up to May 11, 2020.
  • Analysis of 707 identified articles, with 22 meeting inclusion criteria for outcomes related to HCoV seasonality.

Main Results:

  • Globally, HCoV infections annually peaked in February.
  • A higher HCoV positivity rate was observed in studies focusing solely on children (median 5.9%) compared to adults (median 5.2%) or the general population (median 1.9%).
  • The largest global peak of HCoV occurred during winter, with children exhibiting the highest positivity rates.

Conclusions:

  • Human coronaviruses exhibit distinct seasonal patterns, with a global peak in February.
  • Children represent a demographic with a notably higher susceptibility to HCoV infections.
  • Understanding HCoV seasonality is crucial for public health strategies, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords:
climatecoronavirusepidemicseasonalityweather

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