Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Association between physical activity and immunogenicity of an inactivated virus vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Gualano, Bruno; Lemes, Italo R.; Silva, Rafael P.; Swinton, Paul

Authors

Bruno Gualano

Italo R. Lemes

Rafael P. Silva



Abstract

Objectives: To investigate whether physical activity is associated with enhanced immunogenicity of a SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine (Coronavac) in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) (n = 898) and in non-ARD (n = 197) individuals without pre-existing immunogenicity to SARS-CoV-2. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study within an open-label, single-arm, phase 4 vaccination trial. Immunogenicity was assessed after vaccination by measuring seroconversion rates of total anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG (SC), geometric mean titers of anti-S1/S2 IgG (GMT), factor-increase in GMT (FI-GMT), frequency of neutralizing antibody (NAb), and median neutralizing activity. Physical activity (active being defined as ≥ 150 min/week) and sedentary behavior (> 8h/day) were assessed by questionnaire. Results: Physically active ARD patients (n = 494) were younger and less frequently used prednisone/biologics than inactive patients (n = 404). After controlling for covariates, active patients exhibited greater SC (OR: 1.4 [95%CI: 1.1–2.0]), GMT (32% [95%CI: 8.8–60) and FI-GMT (33% [95%CI: 9.6–63%]) vs. inactive. Cluster analysis (physical activity/sedentary status) revealed greater GMT (43.0% [95% CI: 11.0–84.0%) and FI-GMT (48.0% [95%CI: 14.0–92.0%]) in active/non-sedentary vs. inactive/sedentary ARD patients. A dose–response was observed, with greater benefits for the group of patients performing ≥ 350 min/week of physical activity (OR: 1.6 [95%CI: 1.1–2.4]; 41% [95%CI: 10–80%]; 35% [95%CI: 4.3–74], for SC, GMT, and FI-GMT, respectively) vs. the least active group (≤30 min/week). Greater SC (OR: 9.9 [95%CI: 1.1–89.0]) and GMT (26% [95%CI: 2.2–56.0%]) were observed in active vs. inactive non-ARD. Conclusions: A physically active lifestyle may enhance SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immunogenicity, a finding of particular clinical relevance for immunocompromised patients. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov #NCT04754698.

Citation

GUALANO, B., LEMES, I.R., SILVA, R.P. et al. 2022. Association between physical activity and immunogenicity of an inactivated virus vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Brain, behavior and immunity [online], 101, pages 49-56. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2021.12.016

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 18, 2021
Online Publication Date Dec 23, 2021
Publication Date Mar 31, 2022
Deposit Date Feb 22, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
Print ISSN 0889-1591
Electronic ISSN 1090-2139
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 101
Pages 49-56
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2021.12.016
Keywords Exercise; Lifestyle; Sedentary behavior; SARS-CoV-2; Coronavirus; COVID-19
Public URL https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1569327
Related Public URLs https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1602992