Variant-Independent Association Between Clinical Symptoms and IgM/IgG Responses During the Transition from...

Understanding how clinical symptoms relate to immune responses during major variant transitions remains important for informing post-pandemic surveillance and vaccination strategies. This study compared symptom patterns and SARS-CoV-2-specific anti-RBD IgM and anti-S1 IgG antibody responses among vaccinated individuals infected during the pre-Omicron and Omicron-dominant periods, representing a key phase in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 population immunity. A retrospective analysis of 216 confirmed COVID-19 cases was performed by evaluating 11 predefined symptoms together with anti-RBD IgM and anti-S1 IgG levels measured at Day-14 after symptom onset, corresponding to the period when humoral antibody responses are detectable following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants with breakthrough infection during the Omicron-dominant period reported fewer symptoms overall compared to the pre-Omicron period, with a median of three versus four symptoms, respectively. Cough was the most common symptom during the Omicron period (82.1%), followed by sore throat (81.4%) and fever (78.6%). In contrast, loss of taste or smell was significantly more frequent in the pre-Omicron period (64.8% versus 22.9%, p < 0.05). IgG levels were significantly higher during the Omicron period than during the pre-Omicron period, increasing by 42.3%, reflecting enhanced antibody responses likely driven by repeated exposure. A consistent association between cough and elevated IgG levels was observed in both periods (p < 0.05), suggesting an association between symptom presentation and the magnitude of the early humoral response. These findings suggest that while clinical symptom profiles evolved across a major SARS-CoV-2 variant transition, certain symptom-antibody relationships remained consistent. Such associations may provide insight into how clinical manifestations relate to immune responses in populations with pre-existing immunity and may support interpretation of symptomatic infection during ongoing SARS-CoV-2 circulation.