Impact of SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody positivity on infection and hospitalisation rates in immunosuppressed populations during the omicron period: the MELODY study
Authors' conclusion
All people with immunosuppression require ongoing access to COVID-19 protection strategies.
Study context
- Population
- Immunosuppressed individuals with solid organ transplants, rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases or lymphoid malignancies after ≥3 COVID-19 vaccinations, UK, omicron period (Dec 2021–June 2022)
- Participants
- 21,575 individuals
- Exposure
- Detectable vs undetectable anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibody after three or more vaccinations
- Outcome
- SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related hospitalisation (admission within 14 days of a positive test)
- Follow-up
- 6 months
Methodological detailsUK national disease registers, linked NHS England data, adjusted analysis
- UK national disease registers
- Linked NHS England data
- Adjusted analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection, adjusted
Anti-S Ab detected vs Anti-S Ab not detectedIncidence rate ratio (95% CI)
SOT cohort
0.69(0.65–0.73)
RAIRD cohort
0.57(0.49–0.67)
Lymphoid malignancy cohort
0.62(0.54–0.71)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | IRR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19-related hospitalisation, adjustedAnti-S Ab detectedvs Anti-S Ab not detectedSOT cohort | 0.40 (0.35–0.46) | |
| COVID-19-related hospitalisation, adjustedAnti-S Ab detectedvs Anti-S Ab not detectedRAIRD cohort | 0.32 (0.22–0.46) | |
| COVID-19-related hospitalisation, adjustedAnti-S Ab detectedvs Anti-S Ab not detectedLymphoid malignancy cohort | 0.41 (0.29–0.58) | |
| 0.20.5125Incidence rate ratio (log scale) |
Anti-S Ab detected, by cohort
- SOT: 6519 of 8466
- 77.0%
- RAIRD: 5594 of 6516
- 85.9%
- Lymphoid malignancy: 5227 of 6593
- 79.3%
COVID-19 infection, overall
- Infections recorded: 3907
- 18.5%
- COVID-19-related hospital admission
- 556
- Died within 28 days of infection
- 17
Original publication
Impact of SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody positivity on infection and hospitalisation rates in immunosuppressed populations during the omicron period: the MELODY study. Lancet. Published 25 January 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →