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Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Response across Diverse Clinical Settings in Oman: Insights from a Prospective ELISA-based Study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background The durability of SARS-CoV-2 antibody response varies with disease severity [1]. Comparative data across diverse clinical settings in the Gulf region are limited. This study assessed persistence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies over six months among hospitalized patients, outpatients and healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods In this prospective cohort study, 356 confirmed COVID-19 cases (123 inpatients, 113 outpatients, and 120 HCWs) were enrolled. Serum IgG titers were measured using ELISA at baseline (≤14 days post-symptom onset), 4-6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months’ post-infection. Longitudinal antibody dynamics were analyzed using a Linear Mixed Effect (LME) model adjusting for patient group, age, comorbidities, and symptoms. Results Inpatients were older, male and had more comorbidities including obesity 54.5% (67/123), diabetes mellitus (DM) 39% (48/123), and hypertension (HTN) 39.8% (49/123), compared to outpatients and HCWs. Peak antibody titers were reached at 4-6 weeks, with gradual decline over the 6 months’ period following initial infection across all groups (p< 0.001). Inpatients demonstrated significantly higher IgG titers at all time points (p< 0.001). Conclusion Severe COVID-19 infection, older age, and comorbidities were linked to stronger, more durable IgG responses. These findings provide essential baseline data on post-COVID-19 immunity in the Gulf region during early pandemic.

Source: IJID Regions

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2025.100736