Clinical-Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 Reinfection from October 1, 2023 to October 1, 2024 According to Time Elapsed Since Primary Infection in a General Medicine Office in Toledo, Spain
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56147/jidpc.1.1.5Keywords:
- COVID-19,
- SARS-CoV-2,
- Reinfection,
- COVID-19 vaccines,
- Epidemiological characteristic,
- General practice
Abstract
Background: Protection against SARS-CoV-2 reinfection based on time since primary infection is not clearly known.
Objective: To interpret the duration of protective immunity after a COVID-19 infection, based on the time elapsed until reinfection.
Methods: An observational, longitudinal and prospective study of adult patients with COVID-19 reinfections in general medicine from October 1, 2023 to October 1, 2024. Reinfections with a time elapsed since primary infection of < and >15 months were compared.
Results: 15 COVID-19 reinfections were included, of which 13% had a time elapsed from COVID-19 primary infections to reinfections <15 months and 87% >15 months. Reinfections with a time <15 months vs. >15 months were older, male, socio-health care workers, with less Chronic diseases, less Complex family, less ethnic minority and more vaccinated with 4th or 5th dose, but none of these variables showed statistically significant differences; ENT symptoms were significantly more frequent (36% vs. 8%; fisher exact test=0.0214).
Conclusion: In the context of a general medicine consultation in Toledo (Spain) reinfections by omicron variants (occurred from October 2023 to October 2024) with primary infections by omicron occurred from July 2023 onwards had a short-term immunity (<15 months). These reinfections vs. those > 15 months since primary infection differ in presenting more ENT symptoms. Although our results should be taken with caution due to the small number of COVID-19 cases included.
