Did We Overreact? Insights on COVID-19 Disease and Vaccination in a Large Cohort of Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disease Patients during Sequential Phases of the Pandemic (The BELCOMID Study)

Bibliographic Details
Title: Did We Overreact? Insights on COVID-19 Disease and Vaccination in a Large Cohort of Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disease Patients during Sequential Phases of the Pandemic (The BELCOMID Study)
Authors: Jeroen Geldof, Marie Truyens, João Sabino, Marc Ferrante, Jo Lambert, Hilde Lapeere, Tom Hillary, An Van Laethem, Kurt de Vlam, Patrick Verschueren, Triana Lobaton, Elizaveta Padalko, Séverine Vermeire
Source: Vaccines, Vol 12, Iss 10, p 1157 (2024)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Medicine
Subject Terms: IMID, COVID-19, vaccination, booster, real world, Medicine
More Details: Introduction: As the COVID-19 pandemic becomes an endemic state, still many questions remain regarding the risks and impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) who were excluded from the phase 3 COVID-19 vaccination trials. Methods: The BELCOMID study collected patient data and serological samples from a large, multicentric IMID patient cohort that was prospectively followed during sequential stages of the pandemic. Patients were stratified according to vaccination status into five groups across three sampling periods. Interactions between SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 vaccination status, IMID-treatment modalities and IMID course were explored. Results: In total, 2165 patients with IBD, a dermatological or rheumatological IMID participated. SARS-CoV-2 infection rates increased over the course of the pandemic and were highest in IMID patients that had refused every vaccine. After baseline COVID-19 vaccination, serologic spike (S)-antibody responses were attenuated by particular types of immune-modulating treatment: anti-TNF, rituximab, JAKi, systemic steroids, combined biologic/immunomodulator treatment. Nonetheless, S-antibody concentration increased progressively in patients who received a booster vaccination, reaching 100% seroconversion rate in patients who had received two booster vaccines. Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was found as a predictor of higher S-antibody response. Patients who had refused every vaccine showed the lowest rates of S-seroconversion (53.8%). Multiple logistic regression did not identify previous SARS-CoV-2 infection as a risk factor for IMID flare-up. Furthermore, no increased risk of IMID flare-up was found with booster vaccination. Conclusions: Altogether, the BELCOMID study provides evidence for the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccination and confirms the importance of repeated booster vaccination in IMID patients.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2076-393X
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/10/1157; https://doaj.org/toc/2076-393X
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12101157
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/116d8621630249e0a74254063247efbf
Accession Number: edsdoj.116d8621630249e0a74254063247efbf
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:2076393X
DOI:10.3390/vaccines12101157
Published in:Vaccines
Language:English