Analysis of long‐term antibody response in COVID‐19 patients by symptoms grade, gender, age, BMI, and medication

Abstract

The first aim of the study was to analyze the change in antibody titer at 15-day intervals until 60 days postsymptom onset (PSO). The second aim was to analyze the relationship between antibody titer and symptom grade, gender, age, body mass index (BMI), medications, vitamin supplements, and herbal therapies. Blood samples were collected from 43 patients (5 mild, 21 moderate, 17 severe diseases), 18 women (41.9%), and 25 men (58.1%), on 15, 30, 45, and 60 days PSO after COVID-19 infection. The serum antibody titers were determined by measuring the COVID-19 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Associations between the duration of symptoms, demographic and clinical parameters, medications and vitamins used, and herbal therapies were evaluated by interviewing the participants. Within the first 15 days of illness, 81.4% of the patients were positive. From Day 45 PSO, seropositivity was 89.5%. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were statistically higher in men than women at all times (p < 0.01). Antibody titer was higher in older participants compared to younger participants (p < 0.02). Plaquenil or favipiravir use did not affect antibody response (p > 0.05). Men had a higher fever (p = 0.006), shortness of breath (p = 0.004), and chest pain (p = 0.03) than women. We found powerful antibody response by 60 days PSO, as well as higher antibody response and severity of symptoms in the men gender. Data also showed that SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are higher in individuals with older age, whereas BMI, concomitant chronic disease, and medications had no effect on antibody titers.

Third trimester messenger RNA COVID-19 booster vaccination upsurge maternal and neonatal SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G antibody levels at birth

“…Contrary to our findings, other researchers did not find that higher BMI influences vaccine serological response [21] , [22] , [23] . Our study and these previous studies did not evaluate vaccine efficacy.…”

Antibodies against Spike protein correlate with broad autoantigen recognition 8 months post SARS-CoV-2 exposure, and anti-calprotectin autoantibodies associated with better clinical outcomes

“…To our knowledge, similar correlations between the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antigens responses has not been done, however anti-S1 responses have been shown to correlate with neutralisation ( 12 , 36 ) indicating the RBD region is the main antigenic target of S1, as observed here. The association between disease severity and lasting anti-SARS-CoV-2 responses post infection is inconsistent, with some studies reporting a correlation with disease severity ( 37 ) and higher responses in severe cases ( 17 , 18 ), and others reporting no differences ( 19 , 20 ). In the present study, we found anti-SARS-CoV-2 responses did not differ according to the self-reported symptom severity.…”

“…During the acute phase of infection, the level of antibody responses has been reported to be associated with disease severity, where those with more severe disease had greater antibody levels ( 13 , 15 ). Contradictory evidence exists on their persistence, with this association reported by some ( 16 – 18 ), but not all ( 19 , 20 ) studies to continue post-disease. Additionally, reports on the level of the long-term anti-SARS-CoV-2 responses and associations to clinical outcomes are few, although current studies suggest they have no impact on long-COVID ( 8 , 16 , 21 ).…”

SARS-CoV-2 antibody persistence after five and twelve months: A cohort study from South-Eastern Norway

“…The study did not include any follow-up antibodies. A study from Turkey showed no effect of BMI on antibody titres, but the sample size was small and the follow-up period was only 60 days [ 36 ]. Nevertheless, obesity was a risk factor for COVID-19 infection severity in many studies as shown in a meta-analysis of 42 studies [ 37 ].…”