1503. Risk Factors for Contracting Infection with SARS-CoV-2: a Prospective Case-control Study

Background As the COVID-19 pandemic has exhausted the healthcare system and economic infrastructures, controlling measures are directed toward population-based strategies including individual's hygiene and safe socializing We conducted this study to identify individual's factors at the population level which are associated with the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 in a middle-to-low income country Methods A prospective case-control study was conducted to compare the demographics, socioeconomics, and individual's behavior between patients with COVID-19 and randomly selected healthy controls from the same population referring to a general hospital in northwest Iran Results Data of 250 patients with a positive RT-PCR test for COVID-19 was compared with 250 healthy controls between March 1st and May 15th (Table1) Higher education, better socioeconomic status, having access to the internet or following relevant news, having an obsession for cleanliness especially regular hands washing with alcohol-based disinfectants, wearing masks in public especially those with an N-95 filter, complying with stay-home orders, and receiving the flu shot over the past season were protective against contracting COVID-19 On the contrary, cigarette smoking or opium consumption, a history of recent travel, having an individual with infection with SARS-CoV-2 within the household, and recent hospitalization were associated with COVID-19 Table1 Comparison of individual's factors between COVID-19 positive and negative patients Conclusion: Individuals' characteristics at a family or public level can guide healthcare authorities and lawmakers in their ongoing endeavors toward controlling the COVID-19 pandemics, especially in low-to-middle income regions