SARS-CoV-2 Transmission during High-Altitude Field Studies

Area of Science:

• High-altitude medicine
• Infectious disease epidemiology
• Clinical research safety

Background:

• Concerns regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission during clinical research were prevalent throughout the pandemic.
• High-altitude field studies present unique challenges for implementing and monitoring infectious disease control measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during high-altitude field studies conducted in Kyrgyzstan in 2021.
• To assess the effectiveness of implemented COVID-19 safety measures in preventing virus transmission within a research setting.

Main Methods:

• Studies involved patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy children at altitudes of 3,100 m and 3,250 m, as well as a control site at 760 m.
• Systematic SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen testing (RAT) was employed for participants and staff.
• Outcomes measured included prevalence at initial presentation and incidence of RAT-positive conversion during and shortly after study participation.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among 338 participants and staff was 4.4%.
• During study participation and a 10-day follow-up, only 0.4% of participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
• Staff experienced a higher conversion rate (10.9%), but the overall median weekly incidence of SARS-CoV-2 among all study personnel (0.00%/week) was significantly lower than the background incidence in the Kyrgyz population (0.06%/week).

Conclusions:

• Specific safety measures effectively minimized SARS-CoV-2 transmission during high-altitude clinical research.
• The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among participants and staff was notably lower compared to the general population.
• These findings provide reassurance for conducting clinical research in similar high-altitude environments with appropriate precautions.