Period prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections and willingness to vaccinate in Swiss elite athletes.

Schmid, Michael Johannes; Örencik, Merlin; Gojanovic, Boris; Schmid, Jürg; Conzelmann, Achim (2022). Period prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections and willingness to vaccinate in Swiss elite athletes. BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 8(2), e001330. BMJ Publishing Group 10.1136/bmjsem-2022-001330

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Objectives

(1) To assess the period prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections and willingness to vaccinate in Swiss elite athletes and (2) to evaluate whether sociodemographic and sport-related characteristics were associated with infection of SARS-CoV-2 in athletes.

Methods

A total of 1037 elite athletes (Mage=27.09) were surveyed in this cross-sectional study. They were asked whether they had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and whether they would like to be vaccinated. Characteristics of a possible COVID-19 illness were also recorded.

Results

During the first year of the pandemic, 14.6% of all Swiss elite athletes were found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, and 5.4% suspected that they had been infected. Male athletes, young athletes and team sports athletes had an increased likelihood of being infected with SARS-CoV-2. There was considerable heterogeneity in the duration and severity of a COVID-19 illness in athletes. Overall, 68% of respondents indicated a willingness to be vaccinated if they were offered an opportunity to do so.

Conclusion

In the first year of the pandemic, Swiss elite athletes were tested more often positive for SARS-CoV-2 than the general Swiss population. Because COVID-19 illness can impair health for a relatively long time, sports federations are advised to motivate athletes to be vaccinated.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Sport Science (ISPW)
07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Sport Science (ISPW) > Sport Psychology and Research Methods

UniBE Contributor:

Schmid, Michael Johannes, Örencik, Merlin Kantigin, Schmid, Jürg (B), Conzelmann, Achim

Subjects:

700 Arts > 790 Sports, games & entertainment

ISSN:

2055-7647

Publisher:

BMJ Publishing Group

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

07 Jul 2022 10:53

Last Modified:

29 Mar 2023 23:38

Publisher DOI:

10.1136/bmjsem-2022-001330

PubMed ID:

35789552

Uncontrolled Keywords:

COVID-19 Elite performance Infection Vaccination

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/171158

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/171158

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