Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and risk of past or future sick leave.

Dillner J, Elfström KM, Blomqvist J, Eklund C, Lagheden C, Nordqvist-Kleppe S, Hellström C, Olofsson J, Andersson E, Jernbom Falk A, Bergström S, Hultin E, Pin E, Månberg A, Nilsson P, Hedhammar M, Hober S, Mattsson J, Mühr LSA, Conneryd Lundgren K

Sci Rep 11 (1) 5160 [2021-03-04; online 2021-03-04]

The extent that antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 may protect against future virus-associated disease is unknown. We invited all employees (n = 15,300) at work at the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden to participate in a study examining SARS-Cov-2 antibodies in relation to registered sick leave. For consenting 12,928 healthy hospital employees antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 could be determined and compared to participant sick leave records. Subjects with viral serum antibodies were not at excess risk for future sick leave (adjusted odds ratio (OR) controlling for age and sex: 0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI) (0.85 (0.43-1.68)]. By contrast, subjects with antibodies had an excess risk for sick leave in the weeks prior to testing [adjusted OR in multivariate analysis: 3.34 (2.98-3.74)]. Thus, presence of viral antibodies marks past disease and protection against excess risk of future disease. Knowledge of whether exposed subjects have had disease in the past or are at risk for future disease is essential for planning of control measures.Trial registration: First registered on 02/06/20, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04411576.

Category: Health

Category: Proteins

Funder: KAW/SciLifeLab

Research Area: High-throughput and high-content serology

Type: Journal article

PubMed 33664279

DOI 10.1038/s41598-021-84356-w

Crossref 10.1038/s41598-021-84356-w

pmc: PMC7933367
pii: 10.1038/s41598-021-84356-w
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04411576


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