Monitoring the course of the COVID-19 epidemic in Estonia
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN10182320 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10182320 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | Nil known |
| Sponsor | University of Tartu |
| Funder | Ministry of Education and Research (Estonia) |
- Submission date
- 14/03/2021
- Registration date
- 16/03/2021
- Last edited
- 21/09/2021
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Infections and Infestations
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
COVID-19 is a condition caused by the coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) that was first identified in late 2019. The ongoing pandemic is an unprecedented global emergency. Epidemic risk management is a highly complex task in which sets of measures need to be put in place and coordinated at local, national, and international levels to minimize health and economic consequences. This complex and monumental task is highly knowledge/evidence-dependent.
There are many unanswered questions on the novel SARS-Cov-2 virus including the immune response and pathogenesis at the individual level. However, the answers to very similar questions at the population level (scale of exposure/infection in the population, the effect of community mitigation measures implemented) are crucial for an effective response to the pandemic and to inform future strategies.
The main aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 in the general population and how this varies over time.
Who can participate?
People selected at random from the Estonian population registry will be invited for participation
What does the study involve?
Participants will be asked to visit a national covid testing center and fill in a web-based questionnaire and undergo nasopharyngeal swabbing (collected from the back of the nose and throat).
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The possible benefits are that participants will get results from tests for SARS-CoV-2. The main disadvantage of taking part is the time and inconvenience of nasopharyngeal swabbing.
Where is the study run from?
University of Tartu (Estonia), and delivered by Kantar-Emor AS, OÜ Medicum Eriarstiabi, and SYNLAB Eesti OÜ (Estonia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2020 to December 2023
Who is funding the study?
Ministry of Education and Research (Estonia)
Who is the main contact?
Unfortunately, this study is not recruiting public volunteers.
Contact information
Scientific
Ravila 19
Tartu
50411
Estonia
| Phone | +372 (0)731 9210 |
|---|---|
| ruth.kalda@ut.ee |
Study information
| Primary study design | Observational |
|---|---|
| Study design | Surveillance study based on repeated cross-sectional surveys of the general population (recruited via stratified random sampling) |
| Secondary study design | Cross sectional study |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | COVID-19 active monitoring program in Estonia |
| Study acronym | COVEST |
| Study objectives | The main aim of this observational study is to estimate the prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the general population and how this varies over time. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 13/04/2020, Research Ethics Committee of the University of Tartu (Grant Office, University of Tartu, Raekoja plats 9, 51004 Tartu, Estonia; +372 (0)737 6215; eetikakomitee@ut.ee), ref: 310/T-1 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 infection) |
| Intervention | Randomly selected consenting adults are asked to visit national testing centers for a nasopharyngeal swab and fill out a web-based questionnaire. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
SARS-CoV-2 prevalence measured using SARS-CoV-2 RNA RT-PCR at each of the cross-sectional study rounds (every month in 2020, six times a year in 2021, 2022/23 to be decided) |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
The proportion of symptomatic cases among people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, measured using a web-based questionnaire at each of the cross-sectional study rounds (every month in 2020, six times a year in 2021, 2022/23 to be decided) |
| Completion date | 30/12/2023 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | All |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 2000 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Adult, male or female 2. Willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study |
| Key exclusion criteria | Does not meet inclusion criteria |
| Date of first enrolment | 23/04/2020 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/11/2023 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Estonia
Study participating centre
Tartu
50411
Estonia
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | The data-sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Preprint results | non-peer reviewed 1st year results | 13/09/2021 | 21/09/2021 | No | No |
| Protocol file | 06/04/2021 | No | No | ||
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Additional files
- ISRCTN10182320_PROTOCOL.pdf
- Uploaded 06/04/2021
Editorial Notes
21/09/2021: Preprint reference added.
06/04/2021: Uploaded protocol (not peer reviewed).
16/03/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Tartu.
