COVID-19 vaccination in relation to immune response and physical activity levels

The study aimed to determine the antibody response associated with physical activity (PA) levels and participants' individual characteristics following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination.

The study population included adults vaccinated with either mRNA, adenovirus vector-based, or protein-based adjuvanted vaccines. The sample was derived from participants in a larger cohort study, whose blood samples were collected on days 21, 42, 90, and 180 following COVID-19 vaccination. We tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody responses, excluding samples collected on day 180, which were analyzed only for IgG antibody titers. Physical Activity (PA) levels were estimated using the short-form International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ), which measures usual weekly physical activity.

Overall, 641 individuals participated in the study. Seropositivity for IgG antibodies was significantly higher among participants with moderate or high PA levels at 21 days (92.6 and 97.0%, respectively) than among those in the low exercise intensity group (70.4%) (p < 0.001). Increasing age was associated with reduced IgG antibody production across all time points (p < 0.001). The presence of at least one comorbidity was also linked to lower IgG and IgA titers at all time points (IgG: p < 0.05; IgA: day 21, p < 0.001; days 42 and 90, p > 0.05). Vaccine type, COVID-19 history, and PA levels significantly affected IgG and IgA antibody responses at specific time points.

Encouraging moderate-to-high levels of exercise regimens before immunization could enhance vaccine efficacy, particularly among groups at risk of poor immune responses, such as older adults and those with chronic diseases.