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Examining the Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic-Induced Stress and Anxiety on Humoral Immunity in Health Care Workers
Valerie S Stark1, Erin C Williams, Felipe Echeverri Tribin
1From the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (V.S.S., E.C.W., J.C., M.E.H.); Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (S. Pallikkuth, S. Pahwa); Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (E.C.W., F.E.T.); University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (V.S.S.); Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (M.E.H.); Department of Public Health, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (V.S.S.); Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (J.M.C., D.B., P.D., F.K.); Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (F.K.); Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (A.C.); and Center for Vaccine Research and Pandemic Preparedness (C-VaRPP), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (J.M.C., D.B., P.D., F.K.).
Objective:
The effect of stress on vaccine-induced humoral immunity and therapeutic interventions to mitigate pandemic-related stress remain underexplored.
Method:
Participants in a longitudinal cohort study ( n = 189) completed a validated measure, GAD-7, and 10-instrument stress measure to assess stress and anxiety after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination. Serum was collected to obtain SARS-CoV-2 antibody titer levels.
Results:
Participants experienced increased stress due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with a positive correlation between GAD-7 scores and peak antibody titers overall; however, there was a negative association with scores commensurate with severe anxiety. Health care workers and younger participants were more significantly affected by anxiety.
Conclusions:
Mild anxiety levels may have immune-enhancing effects, whereas severe anxiety may cause antibody generation reduction. Mental health-focused interventions are imperative for younger adults and health care workers. Young adults may be more resilient to increased stress levels.
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