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

• Published in: Journal of medical virology Vol. 94; no. 4; pp. 1412 - 1418
• Main Authors: Ozgocer, Tuba, Dagli, Şeyda N., Ceylan, Mehmet R., Disli, Faruk, Ucar, Cihat, Yildiz, Sedat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.04.2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Age Factors; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibody Formation; Antibody response; Body mass; Body Mass Index; Body size; Chronic illnesses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID‐19 symptom; Dietary supplements; Disease; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Female; Fever; Gender; Humans; IgG antibody; IgG antibody titer; Immunoassay; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Male; Men; Middle Aged; Myalgia; Pain; Patients; SARS-CoV-2; Serologic Tests; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Sex Factors; Signs and symptoms; Smell; Statistical methods; Time Factors; Viral diseases; Virology; Vitamins; Womens health; COVID-19; COVID-19 symptom; IgG antibody titer; gender; age
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27452
• ISSN: 0146-6615

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. Highlights Seropositivity persisted up to 60 days PSO and there were no recurrent COVID‐19 case in the 60‐day follow‐up period. The anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody titers were affected by age and gender. Males and older individuals developed stronger antibody responses. The anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody titers were not affected by disease grade, BMI, chronic disease, vitamin use, or therapeutic drugs. The anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody titers were negatively associated with loss of smell, anxiety, and myalgia symptoms.