Factors influencing IgG response against SARS-CoV-2: A quantitative serological survey among healthcare workers of a COVID-19 dedicated health facility in India

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to explore the factors influencing serum IgG response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) among healthcare workers (HCWs) of a tertiary healthcare facility in India. Material and Methods: It was a monocentric, observational study during the month of September 2020. In the study, a cross-sectional quantitative serological assessment of IgG response against SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, Bihar, was done using a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) platform named “ADVIA Centaur COV2G.” Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (version 22.0) was used for data analysis. Results: Among the study subjects, 761 (82.8%) had detectable serum IgG traces against SARS-CoV-2 with median (interquartile range [IQR]) of 0.03 (0.01–0.08). Those who were male by gender (spearman rho correlation co-efficient [ρ] = 0.08; P ≤ 0.05), technician (ρ= 0.07; P ≤ 0.05), attendant (ρ= 0.19; P ≤ 0.01), and sanitary staff (ρ= 0.13; P ≤ 0.01) by occupation, posted in laboratories (ρ= 0.09; P ≤ 0.01), had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (ρ= 0.26; P ≤ 0.01), used to take steam inhalation (ρ= 0.10; P ≤ 0.01), preferred non-vegetarian diet (ρ= 0.10; P ≤ 0.01), consumed azithromycin (ρ= 0.13; P ≤ 0.01), zinc (ρ= 0.08; P ≤ 0.05) had significantly higher whereas doctors (ρ= −0.10; P ≤ 0.01), and nurses (ρ= −0.16; P ≤ 0.01) had significantly lower serum IgG response against SARS-CoV-2 compared to others. Conclusion: Gender, occupation, place of posting, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, use of steam inhalation, diet preference, consumption of azithromycin, and zinc emerged as significant attributes of serum IgG response against SARS-CoV-2 among the study subjects.