Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2001 Jan-Feb; 75(1): 55-62.

[Cytomegalovirus seroepidemiology in the community of Madrid]

de Ory ManchÃ³n F, Sanz Moreno JC, CastaÃ±eda LÃ³pez R, RamÃrez FernÃ¡ndez R, LeÃ³n Rega P, PachÃ³n del Amo I.

Servicio de MicrobiologÃa DiagnÃ³stica, Centro Nacional de MicrobiologÃa, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda 28220 Madrid. fory@isciii.es

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is frequently asymptomatic. However, it constitutes an important cause of congenital disease and severe pathology in immunodepressed patients, thus representing an important problem in Public Health. The object of this work was to study the prevalence of IgG against CMV (IgG-CMV) in the general population from Madrid. METHODS: It is a transversal study, in which IgG-CMV was assayed in a representative sample of the general population from the Region of Madrid, aged 2 to 60 years (n = 2030). Participants were recruited by a two-stage cluster sample procedure from those attending primary health care centres between October, 1993 and February, 1994. For the statistical analysis the chi 2 and chi 2 lineal trend tests were employed. The percentages of seroprevalence and the specific odds ratios were calculated with confidence intervals of 95%. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence has been 62.8% (IC95% 60.6-64.9), ranging from 58.4% (IC95% 55.2-61.5) in men to 66.7% (IC95% 63.7-69.5) in women. A significant association between increase of the age and increment of the seroprevalence was observed. The consult to dentistry, the antecedent of surgery, as well as tattooing and acupuncture has been identified as risk factors of acquiring the infection. On the other hand, to have carried out University studies seems to act as a significant factor of protection. CONCLUSIONS: Although the risk factors detected indicates a transmission by blood, the high prevalence suggests the existence of other more common ways. The age-dependent seroprevalence increase confirms an important number of infections in the adult age. However, it cannot be exclude that this increase responds to an effect cohort due to socio-economic improvements similar to the detected for other virus.