Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Response Among Spectators of Amir Cup 2020 With a History of Recovery From COVID-19 in Qatar: A Historic Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT

Aim The aim of the study is to describe the antibody response after COVID-19 infection and assess its effectiveness against reinfection. Background COVID-19 has recently emerged as a contagious infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This infection is followed by a humoral immune antibody response, which may remain in the blood for a number of weeks. Studies have shown that antibodies protect against reinfection for at least seven months. The current study is aimed at investigating the persistence of circulating SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after COVID-19 infection and its behavior over 18 months of follow-up period, in addition to assessing the risk of reinfection of COVID-19 in unvaccinated individuals. Methodology A longitudinal historical cohort study of 3378 COVID-19 recovered individuals in connection with the Amir Cup football tournament held in Qatar, in December 2020 was analyzed. The health records of study participants were followed for a maximum of 18 months after serology testing or until the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination to detect any evidence of recurrent infection. Results The study found a statistically significant association between recurrence risk and the duration of risk exposure since the first COVID-19 episode. Compared to those with the lowest risk of exposure to reinfection (shortest duration after first infection) those beyond 299 days of at-risk exposure since the first episode, have a 51-fold higher risk of developing recurrent COVID-19. Conclusion Immunity developed after primary infection with SARS-CoV-2 may protect against reinfection from subsequent exposure to the virus in seropositive individuals up to nine months post-infection.