Estimated cytomegalovirus seroprevalence in the general population of the United States and Canada.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Meta-regression modeling of observational cross-sectional survey data
PubMed 38529529 · doi:10.1002/jmv.29525
What was done
The authors conducted a literature review in August 2022 of data published since 2005 reporting age-, sex-, and country-specific cytomegalovirus (CMV) seroprevalence in the general populations of the United States and Canada. Data were extracted by age categories and sex, and a random-effects meta-regression model (incorporating splines for the US) was used to estimate seroprevalence.
What was found
Seven studies reported US CMV seroprevalence across ages 1 to 89 years, all using NHANES data. Canadian estimates were modeled using limited non-population-based country data. Modeled seroprevalence increased with age and was higher in females than males. In the US, seroprevalence was 49.0% in females versus 41.6% in males at 18 to 19 years, and 61.5% versus 50.0% at 38 to 39 years. In Canada, seroprevalence was 23.7% in females versus 13.7% in males at 18 to 19 years, and 32.6% versus 22.6% at 38 to 39 years. By young adulthood, one-half of US females and one-quarter of Canadian females had acquired CMV.
Why it matters
This study provides modeled benchmarks for CMV seroprevalence across North America, identifying substantial differences between the United States and Canada as well as higher rates in females.
Limits
All US data came from a single source (NHANES), while Canadian data were sparse and not population-based. The abstract does not report overall participant sample sizes, confidence intervals, or specific demographic adjustments beyond age, sex, and country.
Cited by
- contradicts Between 80% and 90% of adults in the United States carry cytomegalovirus (CMV).