Authors
Alexis Elias Malavazos, Carola Dubini, Valentina Milani, Sara Boveri, Chiara Meregalli, Caterina Bertolini, Carola Buscemi, Rosanna Cardani, Laura Valentina Renna, Manuel Bruno Trevisan, Valentina Scravaglieri, Maria Teresa Cuppone, Lorenzo Menicanti, Elena Costa, Federico Ambrogi, Chiara Ruocco, Michele Carruba, Gianluca Iacobellis, Enzo Nisoli, Massimiliano Marco Corsi Romanelli
Publication date
2023/11/30
Journal
Vaccines
Volume
11
Issue
12
Pages
1796
Publisher
MDPI
Description
Little is known about the long-term durability of the induced immune response in subjects with obesity, particularly in those with an abdominal distribution of adipose tissue. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses after BNT162b2 vaccine booster dose, comparing individuals with and without abdominal obesity (AO), discerning between individuals previously infected or not. IgG-TrimericS were measured in 511 subjects at baseline, on the 21st day after vaccine dose 1, and at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months from dose 2, and at 1 and 3 months following the booster dose. To detect SARS-CoV-2 infection, nucleocapsid antibodies were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Multivariable linear regression evaluated the three-month difference in the absolute variation in IgG-TrimericS levels from booster dose, showing AO and SARS-CoV-2 infection status interactions (p = 0.016). Regardless of possible confounding factors and IgG-TrimericS levels at the booster dose, AO is associated with a higher absolute change in IgG-TrimericS in prior infected individuals (p = 0.0125). In the same regression model, no interaction is highlighted using BMI (p = 0.418). The robust response in the development of antibodies after booster dose, observed in people with AO and previous infection, may support the recommendations to administer a booster dose in this population group.