According to a new study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, those who have had severe or long-lasting bouts of COVID-19 are more likely to have the highest antibody levels needed to fight future infection.
The report, titled ‘Determinants and Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Diverse Population: 6-Month Evaluation of a Prospective Cohort Study,’ was part of the broader Rutgers Corona Cohort study. It studied 548 healthcare workers and 283 others from the beginning of the pandemic to the present.
More than 93 of the total 831 participants (11%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 or developed antibodies within 6 months of the commencement of the study, according to the researchers. There were 24 extremely symptomatic patients and 14 asymptomatic patients among the 93. One-third of the infected people had symptoms like exhaustion, shortness of breath, and loss of taste and smell. It lasted at least a month; 10% had symptoms that lasted at least four months.
The majority of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 generate antibodies. Antibody production varied depending on the severity of symptoms; 96 percent of patients with severe symptoms had IgG antibodies; compared to 89 percent with mild to moderate symptoms; 79 percent were asymptomatic, according to the study.
Severe COVID-19- Highest antibody levels
“Neurological changes, including brain fog and problems with memory or vision, were infrequent among infected participants but did tend to last for many months when they occurred. Notably, having persistent symptoms was also associated with having higher antibody levels over time. We know from other research that vaccination further enhances immune protection and sometimes even helps ease long-term symptoms,” a Rutgers University press release quoted co-lead author Daniel B Horton as saying.
Co-lead author Emily S. Barrett said: “It is normal for antibody levels to decline over time. Nevertheless, antibodies provide long-term protection to help the body fight reinfection.”
The researchers enrolled participants before they were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. They evaluated them over a spectrum of sickness severity, giving them a better understanding of antibody response over time.