COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment impact on symptoms and post-COVID conditions among high-risk patients at a Federally Qualified Health Center

Natalie L Vawter; Job G Godino; Sydney V Lewis; Adam W Northrup; Jane C Samaniego; Jacqueline Y Poblete; Jesus A Guereca; Sydney P Sharp; Eva Matthews; Noe C Crespo; Pauline G Lucatero; Monica M Vidaurrazaga; Christian B Ramers

doi:10.1186/s12879-023-08057-7

COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment impact on symptoms and post-COVID conditions among high-risk patients at a Federally Qualified Health Center

BMC Infect Dis. 2023 Feb 22;23(1):105. doi: 10.1186/s12879-023-08057-7.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Laura Rodriguez Research Institute, Family Health Centers of San Diego, 1750 5th Ave, San Diego, CA, 92101, USA.
² Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
³ School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
⁴ Family Health Centers of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
⁵ Laura Rodriguez Research Institute, Family Health Centers of San Diego, 1750 5th Ave, San Diego, CA, 92101, USA. christianr@fhcsd.org.
⁶ School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA. christianr@fhcsd.org.

Abstract

Background: Monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for COVID-19 is associated with improved clinical outcomes. However, there is limited information regarding the impact of treatment on symptoms and the prevalence of post-COVID Conditions (PCC). Understanding of the association between time to mAb infusion and the development of PCC is also limited.

Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted among patients with COVID-19 who received mAb infusions at a Federally Qualified Health Center in San Diego, CA. A series of telephone interviews were conducted at baseline and follow-up (14 days and 28+ days). A comprehensive symptom inventory was completed and physical and mental health status were measured using PROMIS-29 and PHQ-2. Pearson's Chi-squared tests and independent two-sample t-tests were performed to test for association between time to mAb infusion and outcomes at follow-up. A Poisson regression model was used to analyze whether time to mAb infusion predicts risk of developing PCC.

Results: Participants (N = 411) were 53% female, ranged in age from 16 to 92 years (mean 50), and a majority (56%) were Latino/Hispanic. Cross-sectional findings revealed a high symptom burden at baseline (70% of patients had cough, 50% had fever, and 44% had headache). The prevalence of many symptoms decreased substantially by the final follow-up survey (29% of patients had cough, 3% had fever, and 28% had headache). Longitudinal findings indicated that 10 symptoms decreased in prevalence from baseline to final follow-up, 2 remained the same, and 14 increased. The severity of symptoms and most patient-reported physical and mental health measure scores decreased over time. The prevalence of PCC was 69% when PCC was defined as ≥ 1 symptom at final follow-up. Time to mAb infusion was not significantly associated with any outcome at follow-up. Time to infusion was not associated with PCC status at final follow-up in the crude or adjusted Poisson regression models.

Conclusions: The prevalence of PCC was high among this patient population following COVID-19 mAb treatment. Time to mAb infusion did not predict the development of PCC. Further research in these areas is essential to answer urgent clinical questions about effective treatments of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 symptoms; Monoclonal antibodies; Post-COVID conditions.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
COVID-19*
Cough
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Headache
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Young Adult