Influencing factors of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐spike‐IgG antibody titers in healthcare workers: A cross‐section study

Abstract

Against the background of the current COVID‐19 infection dynamics with its rapid spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 variants of concern (VOC), the immunity and the vaccine prevention of healthcare workers (HCWs) against SARS‐CoV‐2 continues to be of high importance. This observational cross‐section study assesses factors influencing the level of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐spike IgG after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection or vaccination. One thousand seven hundred and fifty HCWs were recruited meeting the following inclusion criteria: age ≥18 years, PCR‐confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection convalescence and/or at least one dose of COVID‐19 vaccination. anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐spike IgG titers were determined by SERION ELISA agile SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG. Mean anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐spike IgG levels increased significantly by number of COVID‐19 vaccinations (92.2 BAU/ml for single, 140.9 BAU/ml for twice and 1144.3 BAU/ml for threefold vaccination). Hybrid COVID‐19 immunized respondents (after infection and vaccination) had significantly higher antibody titers compared with convalescent only HCWs. Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐spike IgG titers declined significantly with time after the second vaccination. Smoking and high age were associated with lower titers. Both recovered and vaccinated HCWs presented a predominantly good humoral immune response. Smoking and higher age limited the humoral SARS‐CoV‐2 immunity, adding to the risk of severe infections within this already health impaired collective.

The relationship between mental health, sleep quality, and the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccinations

“…Because of these limitations, mostly due to the real-life assessment in this large cohort study, our data does not exclude the possibility that severely disturbed sleep, insomnia, or specific mental health conditions might impact the immunogenicity of COVID-19 booster vaccinations. However, our results suggest that low sleep quality or mental health conditions in general have no relevant impact on antibody titres following COVID-19 booster vaccinations, especially compared to established mediators of COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity, specifically age, smoking, and interval to the last immunising event (Reusch et al, 2022). While insomnia patients generally underestimate their sleep (Benz et al, 2022), polysomnographic measurements provide evidence for an objective reduction of sleep time in insomnia cohorts (Baglioni et al, 2014).…”

“…However, our results suggest that low sleep quality or mental health conditions in general have no relevant impact on antibody titres following COVID-19 booster vaccinations, especially compared to established mediators of COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity, specifically age, smoking, and interval to the last immunising event (Reusch et al, 2022). While insomnia patients generally underestimate their sleep (Benz et al, 2022), polysomnographic measurements provide evidence for an objective reduction of sleep time in insomnia cohorts (Baglioni et al, 2014).…”

The relationship between mental health, sleep quality and the immunogenicity of COVID‐19 vaccinations

“…Because of these limitations, which are mostly due to the real‐life assessment in this large cohort study, our data do not exclude the possibility that severely disturbed sleep, insomnia or specific mental health conditions might impact the immunogenicity of COVID‐19 booster vaccinations. However, our results suggest that low sleep quality or mental health conditions in general have no relevant impact on antibody titres following COVID‐19 booster vaccinations, especially compared with established mediators of COVID‐19 vaccine immunogenicity, specifically age, smoking and interval to the last immunising event (Reusch et al, 2023). While patients with insomnia generally underestimate their sleep (Benz et al, 2022), polysomnographic measurements provide evidence for an objective reduction of sleep time in insomnia cohorts (Baglioni et al, 2014).…”

“…It should also be noted that due to data protection regulations, the study participants were not asked for a specific psychiatric diagnosis, and therefore it is not possible to investigate the impact of mood disorders on vaccine immunogenicity that has previously been found (Xiao et al, 2022). We considered age, convalescence from a SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and time interval since the last COVID‐19 immunising event, as established (Reusch et al, 2023), as well as BMI and household size as possible confounders. Other potential confounders such as the amount of physical activity, having school‐aged children, or living in a rural versus urban area were not recorded, but are of potential interest and should be explored in future studies.…”

“…Other potential confounders such as the amount of physical activity, having school-aged children, or living in a rural versus urban area were not recorded, but are of potential interest and should be explored in future studies. We also did not assess a potential impact of the circadian timing of the vaccine administration on the vaccine immunogenicity as our study (Reusch et al, 2023). While patients with insomnia generally underestimate their sleep (Benz et al, 2022), polysomnographic measurements provide evidence for an objective reduction of sleep time in insomnia cohorts (Baglioni et al, 2014).…”