COVID-19 Screening by Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Seropositivity: Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics, Comorbidities, and Food Intake Quality

Abstract

Developing countries have reported lower molecular diagnostic testing levels due to a lack of resources. Therefore, antibody tests represent an alternative to detect exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and analyze possible risk factors. We aimed to describe and compare the clinical-epidemiological characteristics and the quality of food intake in Mexican individuals with a positive or negative test to antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. We carried out antibody tests and applied a survey to 1799 individuals; 42% were positive, and diabetes was more prevalent in these cases (p < 0.01). No differences were identified in the blood type nor influenza vaccination between groups. Coughing, respiratory distress, muscle pain, joint pain, and anosmia were the most prevalent symptoms among seropositive cases (p < 0.0001). Food intake quality was similar in both groups, except for the most consumed type of fat (p = 0.006). In conclusion, this study supports the association of diabetes as a principal risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Mexican population. The results do not support previous associations between blood group or influenza vaccination as protective factors against SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, frequent consumption of polyunsaturated fats is highlighted as a new possible associated factor with COVID-19, which more studies should corroborate as with all novel findings.

Downregulation of sCD40 and sCTLA4 in Recovered COVID-19 Patients with Comorbidities

“…We observed that only half of the subjects in the non-comorbid group produced antibodies, whereas all subjects in comorbid groups were IgG-positive to the anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid. Similarly, Macedo et al detected high seropositivity in all comorbid groups analyzed, where DM and HTN were the comorbidities with the highest incidence [ 21 ].…”

Vitamin A Positively Correlates with Secretory Immunoglobulin A: A Cross-Sectional Study in Omicron COVID-19 Outpatients

“…Identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants was also performed using the Master Mut Kit assay (Genes2Life G2LMUSC-14, Guanajuato, Mexico) as previously described [ 21 ]. The LaDEER eligibility criteria for RT-PCR testing of suspected COVID-19 patients has previously been published in greater detail [ 22 , 23 ].…”

Bidirectionality between Cardiometabolic Diseases and COVID-19: Role of Humoral Immunity

“…The association between binding antibodies and diabetes is less clear. Six studies reported positive associations, including greater antibody levels [ 47 , 66 ] and percentage of seropositivity [ 62 , [69] , [70] , [71] ], among people with metabolic abnormalities (DM and related indicators [glucose, HbA1c]), relative to those without. Five studies showed no differences in seropositivity by DM status [ 49 , [72] , [73] , [74] , [75] ], whereas one study found an inverse association between seropositivity and DM [ 76 ].…”

“…Eight studies showed that SARS-CoV-2 binding antibody seropositivity [ 69 , 73 ], specifically anti-N [ 67 , [74] , [75] , [76] ] and anti-S receptor binding domain (RBD) [ 49 ], and anti-S titers [ 66 ] did not differ by hypertension or elevated blood pressure. Two studies reported positive associations between SARS-CoV-2 Ig levels and hypertension [ 47 , 80 ]; 2 studies found inverse associations between neutralizing antibody titers or binding antibody seropositivity and hypertension [ 48 , 76 ].…”