Inactivated Vaccine Dosage and Serum IgG Levels Correlate with Persistent COVID-19 Infection in Hematologic Malignancy Patients During the Omicron Surge in China

Abstract

In hematologic malignancies (HM) patients, COVID-19 infections carry a significant risk of mortality due to disease status, treatment, and other factors.The risk factors of the severity and persistence of COVID-19 infections remains unclear. A study observed adults with HM diagnosed with COVID-19 from November 2022 to February 2023. Patient blood samples yielded biochemical data, with COVID-19 confirmed via RNA or antigen testing. In the examined cohort, 133 individuals diagnosed with HM and concomitantly infected with COVID-19 were scrutinized. Using advanced multivariate logistic regression, high C-reactive protein levels (≥100mg/L) significantly increased the risk of severe/critical conditions in HM patients with COVID-19 (OR: 3.415, 95% CI: 1.294-9.012; p=0.013). Patients enduring Omicron infection beyond 30 days were deemed persistent, in contrast to those achieving infection control within this duration. The research indicated that taking ＜2 vaccine doses (OR: 0.202, 95% CI: 0.048-0.857; p=0.030), having low IgG levels (＜1000 mg/dl) (OR: 0.129, 95% CI: 0.027-0.607; p=0.010), and increased interleukin-6 levels (≥12pg/ml) (OR: 5.098, 95% CI: 1.118-23.243; p=0.035) were key indicators of ongoing infection. A significant difference in survival rates was observed between patients with persistent and non-persistent infections, with the latter showing better survival outcomes (P<0.001). In conclusion, increased C-reactive protein levels had a higher likelihood of severe health outcomes for HM patients with COVID-19 infection. Persistent infections tended to be more prevalent in those with lower vaccine dosages, diminished IgG levels, and escalated interleukin-6 levels.