COVICAT: COVID-19 cohort of Catalonia. Sero-Epidemiological Study of Catalonia
- Research Leader:
- Rafael de Cid, PhD. GCAT Chief Scientist, Genomes for Life-GCAT Lab
- Institution:
- IGTP
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:
- Rafael de Cid, PhD. GCAT Chief Scientist, Genomes for Life-GCAT Lab, IGTP, Badalona, Spain
- Manolis Kogevinas, ISGlobal Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
INSTITUTIONS:
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Catalonia
- ISGlobal Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
FUNDING AGENCIES: IGTP-COVCAT
SUMMARY
COVICAT, COVID Cohort of Catalonia, is a new research study developed within the framework of the GCAT-Genomes for Life project.
COVICAT is carried out by the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, in collaboration with the Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), with a population of 24,000 volunteers in Catalonia, including 20,000 volunteers from the GCAT project.
COVICAT is a study aimed to evaluate the impact of infection on the Catalan population by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, through the prospective analysis of COVID-19, and the factors associated with pathology, immunity, comorbidity, transmission and genetic susceptibility of COVID-19 disease.
The COVICAT study will include clinical information (previous diseases), traceability and exposure to SARS-CoV-2 contacts confirmed and/or suspected of SARS-CoV-2 infection, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, household characteristics, prevention measures (social distancing, ...), standard questionnaires on mental health and risk perception, and genetic and epigenetic susceptibility to infection and disease evolution. The information collected at COVICAT will also be studied in the context of the general health monitoring that is already carried out as volunteers of the GCAT project.
Objectives
- COVICAT will evaluate the personal genetic and epigenetic determinants involved in the susceptibility and evolution of the disease to define predictive models that help prevent the development or minimize the risk for each individual and improve their treatment.
- COVICAT will evaluate the social and economic impact of the epidemic outbreak in the population and the impact of measures to control the epidemic, in particular containment and post-containment measures, as well as the short-term and long-term impact of the epidemic on mental health of the population.
