Humoral immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in diabetes is age-dependent but independent of type of diabetes and glycaemic control: The prospective COVAC-DM cohort study

COVID-19 vaccines and blood glucose control: Friend or foe?

PURPOSE

To overview the recent literature regarding the relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and glycemic control.

METHODS

Data were extracted from text and tables of all available articles published up to September 2023 in PubMed Database describing glucose homeostasis data in subjects exposed to COVID-19 vaccines, focusing on patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

RESULTS

It is debated if the immune system impairment observed in diabetic patients makes them susceptible to lower efficacy of vaccines, but evidence suggests a possible improvement in immune response in those with good glycemic control. Despite their proven protective role lowering infection rates and disease severity, COVID-19 vaccines can result in diabetic ketoacidosis, new-onset diabetes, or episodes of hyper- or hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence with COVID-19 vaccines highlights the strong relationship existing between DM and immune system function. Clinicians should strive to achieve optimal glucose control before vaccination and promptly manage possible glucose homeostasis derangement following vaccine exposure.

Anti-spike antibody level is associated with the risk of clinical progression among subjects hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia: results from a retrospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike (anti-S) may confer protection against symptomatic COVID-19. Whether their level predicts progression among those with COVID-19 pneumonia remains unclear.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess predictors of anti-S levels and whether anti-S titer is associated with death or mechanical ventilation (MV). Adults hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia between July 2021 and July 2022 were enrolled if anti-S had been measured within 72 h of admission. Predictors of anti-S level were explored using multivariable quantile regression. The association between anti-S levels and 30-day death/MV was investigated via multivariable logistic regression. Analyses were stratified by vaccine status.

RESULTS

The median anti-S level was 1370 BAU/ml in 328 vaccinated and 15.5 BAU/ml in 206 unvaccinated individuals. Among the vaccinated, shorter symptom duration (p = 0.001), hematological malignancies (p = 0.002), and immunosuppressive therapy (p = 0.004) were associated with lower anti-S levels. In the unvaccinated group, symptom duration was the only predictor of anti-S levels (p < 0.001). After 30 days, 134 patients experienced death or MV. Among vaccinated individuals, higher anti-S levels correlated significantly with lower death/MV risk (per log2 increase, OR 0.88, 95%CI 0.81-0.97), irrespective of age and solid malignancies. Among unvaccinated, a marginally protective effect was observed (OR 0.86, 95%CI 0.73-1.01), independent of age, immunosuppressive therapy, and diabetes. Adjustment for monoclonal antibody treatment strengthened the association (OR 0.81, 95%CI 0.68-0.96).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that levels of anti-S antibodies can predict critical or fatal outcomes in COVID-19 pneumonia patients, regardless of vaccination. Whether anti-S Ab could guide risk assessment and vaccination boosting merits further evaluation.

Immediate impacts of COVID-19 vaccination on glycemic control in type 1 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended in diabetic patients since diabetes is associated with worse clinical outcomes in COVID-19 infection. The safety profile of different types of COVID-19 vaccines, especially on glycemic control, can be explored due to availability of data from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. This meta-analysis aimed to quantify the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar was conducted using a search strategy for studies published till January 2023 in English language. Comparative observational studies reporting glycemic control obtained from CGM before and after COVID-19 vaccination in T1DM patients were included. The primary outcome was time in range (TIR) metric of proportion of glucose results falling within the range: 3.9-10 mmol/l. Other outcomes were time above range (TAR) (>10 mmol/l), time below range (TBR) (<3.9 mmol/l), coefficient of variation (CV), and mean blood glucose levels. The pooled outcomes were compared pre-vaccination and post-vaccination using Hedges' g (HG) with 95% CI.

Results

A total of seven studies (632 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. COVID-19 vaccination caused small and statistically insignificant decrease in TIR after both the first (HG = 0.21, 95% CI: -0.02 to 0.44, P=0.07) and second dose (HG = 0.09, 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.21, P = 0.19). Likewise, TAR was not affected after neither first (HG = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.22 to 0.03, P = 0.12) nor second vaccine dose (HG = -0.07, 95% CI: -0.21 to 0.06, P = 0.30). Likewise, TBR, mean blood glucose levels, and CV were not significantly altered following uptake of either of the doses.

Conclusion

COVID-19 vaccination has an excellent safety profile in T1DM patients owing to its minimal impacts on immediate glycemic control.

Research Progress on the Weak Immune Response to the COVID-19 Vaccine in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is generally susceptible to the population, highly infectious, rapidly transmitted, and highly fatal. There is a lack of specific drugs against the virus at present and vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent infection. However, studies have found that some groups, particularly patients with diabetes, show varying degrees of weak immune reactivity to various COVID-19 vaccines, resulting in poor preventive efficacy against the novel coronavirus in patients with diabetes. Therefore, in this study, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who had weak immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine in recent years were analyzed. This article reviews the phenomenon, preliminary mechanism, and related factors affecting weak vaccine response in patients with T2DM, which is expected to help in the development of new vaccines for high-risk groups for COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccination and Gout Flare Risk in Patients With Infrequent or Frequent Flares: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess post-COVID-19 vaccination gout flare risk with differing baseline flare burden.

METHODS

We prospectively studied gout patients with infrequent or frequent flares, defined as ≤1 flare/year or ≥2 flares/year, respectively. COVID-19 vaccine-naive patients managed with urate-lowering therapy between February and June 2021 were included and voluntarily decided on vaccination. Participants were followed for 12 weeks after enrollment or first vaccine dose. Gout flares and risk factors were compared between groups.

RESULTS

Of 530 participants, 308 (58.1%) had infrequent flares and 222 (41.9%) had frequent flares at baseline, with 248 (142 infrequent and 106 frequent) receiving two-dose COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccination increased cumulative flare incidence at 12 weeks in the infrequent but not the frequent flare group (26.1% vs 10.8%, P = 0.001, compared with 60.4% vs 65.5%, P = 0.428). Flare incidence in the final 4 weeks of observation decreased significantly only in the vaccinated infrequent flare group (4.3% vs 12.0%, P = 0.017). Multivariable analyses showed that vaccination (odds ratio [OR] 2.82, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.50-5.30, P = 0.001), flare in the preceding year (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.03-3.71, P = 0.04), and body mass index (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.19, P = 0.03) were independently associated with increased flare risk in the infrequent flare group. Baseline serum urate (mg/dl) was an independent risk factor in the frequent flare group (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.05-1.45, P = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 vaccination was associated with increased early gout flares only in patients with previously infrequent flares.

New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus in COVID-19: A Scoping Review

INTRODUCTION

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic became superimposed on the pre-existing obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) pandemics. Since COVID-19 infection alters the metabolic equilibrium, it may induce pathophysiologic mechanisms that potentiate new-onset DM, and we evaluated this issue.

METHOD

A systematic review of the literature published from the 1 January 2020 until the 20 July 2023 was performed (PROSPERO registration number CRD42022341638). We included only full-text articles of both human clinical and randomized controlled trials published in English and enrolling adults (age > 18 years old) with ongoing or preceding COVID-19 in whom hyperglycemia was detected. The search was based on the following criteria: "(new-onset diabetes mellitus OR new-onset DM) AND (COVID-19) AND adults".

RESULTS

Articles on MEDLINE (n = 70) and the Web of Science database (n = 16) were included and analyzed by two researchers who selected 20 relevant articles. We found evidence of a bidirectional relationship between COVID-19 and DM.

CONCLUSIONS

This link operates as a pathophysiological mechanism supported by epidemiological data and also by the clinical and biological findings obtained from the affected individuals. The COVID-19 pandemic raised the incidence of DM through different pathophysiological and psychosocial factors.

Comparative Analysis of Predictive Interstitial Glucose Level Classification Models

BACKGROUND

New methods of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provide real-time alerts for hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and rapid fluctuations of glucose levels, thereby improving glycemic control, which is especially crucial during meals and physical activity. However, complex CGM systems pose challenges for individuals with diabetes and healthcare professionals, particularly when interpreting rapid glucose level changes, dealing with sensor delays (approximately a 10 min difference between interstitial and plasma glucose readings), and addressing potential malfunctions. The development of advanced predictive glucose level classification models becomes imperative for optimizing insulin dosing and managing daily activities.

METHODS

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of three different predictive models for the glucose level classification: (1) an autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA), (2) logistic regression, and (3) long short-term memory networks (LSTM). The performance of these models was evaluated in predicting hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL), euglycemia (70-180 mg/dL), and hyperglycemia (>180 mg/dL) classes 15 min and 1 h ahead. More specifically, the confusion matrices were obtained and metrics such as precision, recall, and accuracy were computed for each model at each predictive horizon.

RESULTS

As expected, ARIMA underperformed the other models in predicting hyper- and hypoglycemia classes for both the 15 min and 1 h horizons. For the 15 min forecast horizon, the performance of logistic regression was the highest of all the models for all glycemia classes, with recall rates of 96% for hyper, 91% for norm, and 98% for hypoglycemia. For the 1 h forecast horizon, the LSTM model turned out to be the best for hyper- and hypoglycemia classes, achieving recall values of 85% and 87% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that different models may have varying strengths and weaknesses in predicting glucose level classes, and the choice of model should be carefully considered based on the specific requirements and context of the clinical application. The logistic regression model proved to be more accurate for the next 15 min, particularly in predicting hypoglycemia. However, the LSTM model outperformed logistic regression in predicting glucose level class for the next hour. Future research could explore hybrid models or ensemble approaches that combine the strengths of multiple models to further enhance the accuracy and reliability of glucose predictions.

Protection of inactivated vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections in patients with comorbidities: a prospective cohort study

Protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection of inactivated vaccines is not well characterized in people with comorbidities, who are at high risk of severe infection. We compared the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection after complete vaccination with Sinopharm/BBIBP in people with comorbidities (e.g., autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, and diabetes) with healthy individuals using a Cox-proportional hazard model. In July-September 2021, a total of 10 548 people (comorbidities, 2143; healthy, 8405) receiving the complete primary series of vaccination with Sinopharm/BBIBP in Bangkok, Thailand were prospectively followed for SARS-CoV-2 infection through text messaging and telephone interviewing for 6 months. A total of 295 infections from 284 participants were found. HRs (95% CI) of individuals with any comorbidities did not increase (unadjusted, 1.02 (0.77-1.36), P = 0.89; adjusted, 1.04 (0.78-1.38), P = 0.81). HRs significantly increased in the subgroup of autoimmune diseases (unadjusted, 2.64 (1.09-6.38), P = 0.032; adjusted, 4.45 (1.83-10.83), P = 0.001) but not in cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, or diabetes. The protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection of the Sinopharm vaccine was similar in participants with any comorbidities vs. healthy individuals. However, the protection appeared lower in the subgroup of autoimmune diseases, which may reflect suboptimal immune responses among these people.

Type 2 diabetes and Covid-19: Lessons learnt, unanswered questions and hints for the future

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and COVID-19 represent a considerable burden of disease for patients and healthcare systems. New evidence is transpiring detailing the existence of a bidirectional relationship between T2DM and COVID-19. Alongside the acute influence of pre-existing T2DM on the course of COVID-19 and the exacerbation of dysglycemia following acute infection, long-term sequalae resulting from the synergistic interplay between the two is emerging, namely the development of COVID-induced diabetes and long-COVID in patients with pre-existing diabetes. This review presents our current understanding of the bidirectionality between these two conditions with a view to highlighting questions which remain unanswered and suggesting avenues for future research. In doing so, it emphasises critical gaps where concentrated research efforts are likely to yield the most beneficial improvements in understanding of the relationship between the two conditions, translating to tangible optimisations in care for the affected population.

Bidirectionality between Cardiometabolic Diseases and COVID-19: Role of Humoral Immunity

Cardiometabolic diseases and abnormalities have recently emerged as independent risk factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity, including hospitalizations, invasive mechanical ventilation, and mortality. Determining whether and how this observation translates to more effective long-term pandemic mitigation strategies remains a challenge due to key research gaps. Specific pathways by which cardiometabolic pathophysiology affects humoral immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and vice versa, remain unclear. This review summarizes current evidence of the bidirectional influences between cardiometabolic diseases (diabetes, adiposity, hypertension, CVDs) and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies induced from infection and vaccination based on human studies. Ninety-two studies among >408,000 participants in 37 countries on 5 continents (Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America) were included in this review. Obesity was associated with higher neutralizing antibody titers following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most studies conducted prior to vaccinations found positive or null associations between binding antibodies (levels, seropositivity) and diabetes; after vaccinations, antibody responses did not differ by diabetes. Hypertension and CVDs were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Findings underscore the importance of elucidating the extent that tailored recommendations for COVID-19 prevention, vaccination effectiveness, screening, and diagnoses among people with obesity could reduce disease burden caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Level Is Associated with a History of COVID-19 Infection and mRNA Vaccination in Patients with Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with higher severity and mortality in SARS-CoV-2 infections. Vaccination has been encouraged to boost immunity and prevent these unfortunate outcomes. Few studies have evaluated antibody levels after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with T2DM. Therefore, we examined the vaccination status and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels to identify the factors that affect the antibody levels in patients with T2DM. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital and Bandung Kiwari Hospital, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, between October and November 2022. Adult participants with and without T2DM were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using a point-of-care quantitative immunochromatographic assay. We enrolled 289 participants: 201 participants with T2DM and 88 participants without T2DM. The T2DM participants had a lower vaccination rate compared with the non-T2DM participants. However, no significant differences in antibody levels were observed between the two groups. Higher antibody levels among the T2DM participants were associated with mRNA vaccination and a history of COVID-19 illness. The lower antibody response observed among the T2DM participants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease suggests that such patients may need antibody level measurement and an additional booster vaccine.

The immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination in participants with underlying comorbidity diseases: A prospective cohort study

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) increases mortality rates in older adults and those with comorbidities. Individuals with certain comorbidities may have a poor immune response and require early booster vaccines. We aimed to assess the immune response after two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, at 84-day intervals, in participants with the following comorbidities; diabetes mellitus; obesity; cardiovascular disease; chronic kidney disease; rheumatological disease; cirrhosis; hematological disease; hematological malignancy; or solid malignancy. The study was conducted at Chulabhorn Hospital in Thailand, with healthy healthcare workers serving as the control group. Of the 769 participants, 352 were in the healthy cohort and 417 were in the comorbidity cohort, all received at least one dose of vaccine. Anti-RBD total antibody levels were evaluated on Day 0, Day 84, and Day 112. The results at Day 112 (4 weeks after the second dose) showed that individuals with comorbidities had a poor immune response compared to healthy individuals, especially those with hematological malignancy and solid malignancy. The geometric mean concentration (GMC) of anti-RBD antibody in the comorbidity cohort was significantly lower than that in the healthy cohort: 433.66 BAU/ml (95% CI 334.62-562.01) versus 1096.14 BAU/ml (95% CI 1010.26-1189.33), respectively. The geometric mean ratio (GMR) between the two cohorts was 0.40 (95% CI 0.30-0.52, p < .001). This study concluded that individuals with comorbidities, particularly hematological and solid malignancies, had poor immune responses and may require an early booster vaccine to prevent infection and death.

Assessment of the Immune Response in Patients with Insulin Resistance, Obesity, and Diabetes to COVID-19 Vaccination

The SARS-CoV-19 pandemic overwhelmed multiple healthcare systems across the world. Patients with underlying medical conditions such as obesity or diabetes were particularly vulnerable, had more severe symptoms, and were more frequently hospitalized. To date, there have been many studies on the severity of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with metabolic disorders, but data on the efficiency of vaccines against COVID-19 are still limited. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity. A comparison is made between the immune response after vaccination in patients with and without metabolic comorbidities. Additionally, an attempt is made to highlight the mechanisms of immune stimulation affected by SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and how metabolic comorbidities modulate these mechanisms. The focus is on the most common COVID-19 vaccines, which include mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, as well as viral vector vaccines such as AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. Furthermore, an effort is made to clarify how the functional differences between these vaccines may impact the response in individuals with metabolic disorders, drawing from available experimental data. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the post-vaccination response to COVID-19 in the context of metabolic comorbidities such as diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity.

Similar Time Course of Humoral Response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccines in People With and Without Type 1 Diabetes

Objective: To assess whether the immunogenicity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines or breakthrough infection rates differ between patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and control subjects. Research Design and Methods: A prospective 12-month follow-up of 27 adults with T1D and 89 control subjects who received at least two doses of either the mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2 vaccine. Primary outcomes: total antibodies against the receptor-binding domain and neutralizing antibodies. A multivariate repeated measures model evaluated potential determinants of antibody response. Results: Neither antibody levels nor breakthrough infection rates after vaccination differed in T1D and non-T1D groups. Older age predicted lower antibody levels, whereas SARS-CoV-2 infection or booster vaccine resulted in higher antibody levels in both groups. mRNA-1273 was associated with higher antibody levels than BNT162b2 until 6 months after the first dose. Conclusions: Persons with and without T1D have similar humoral antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines during 12-months of follow-up.

Immunogenicity, safety and clinical outcomes of the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine in adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Introduction

The mRNA-based BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine has been shown to elicit robust systemic immune response and confer substantial protection against the severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with a favorable safety profile in adolescents. However, no data exist regarding immunogenicity, reactogenicity and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 vaccines in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). In this prospective observational cohort study, we examined the humoral immune responses and side effects induced by the BNT162b2 vaccine, as well as, the rate and symptomatology of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections after completion of dual-dose BNT162b2 vaccination in adolescents with T1D and compared their data with those of healthy control adolescents. The new data obtained after the vaccination of adolescents with T1D could guide their further COVID-19 vaccination schedule.

Methods

A total of 132 adolescents with T1D and 71 controls were enrolled in the study, of whom 81 COVID-19 infection-naive adolescents with T1D (patient group) and 40 COVID-19 infection-naive controls (control group) were eligible for the final analysis. The response of participants to the BNT162b2 vaccine was assessed by measuring their serum IgG antibodies to the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), 4-6 weeks after the receipt of first and second vaccine doses. Data about the adverse events of the vaccine was collected after the receipt of each vaccine dose. The rate of COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections was evaluated in the 6-month period following second vaccination.

Results

After vaccinations, adolescents with T1D and controls exhibited similar, highly robust increments in anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers. All the participants in the patient and control groups developed anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers over 1,050 AU/ml after the second vaccine dose which is associated with a neutralizing effect. None of the participants experienced severe adverse events. The rate of breakthrough infections in the patient group was similar to that in the control group. Clinical symptomatology was mild in all cases.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that two-dose BNT162b2 vaccine administered to adolescents with T1D elicits robust humoral immune response, with a favorable safety profile and can provide protection against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection similar to that in healthy adolescents.

Prevaccination Glucose Time in Range Correlates With Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Type 1 Diabetes

CONTEXT

Poor glucose control has been associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to assess the effect of prevaccination glucose control on antibody response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BNT162b2 in T1D.

METHODS

We studied 26 patients with T1D scheduled to receive 2 doses, 21 days apart, of BNT162b2, followed prospectively for 6 months with regular evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and glucose control. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) to spike glycoprotein were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and serum neutralization by a live SARS-CoV-2 assay (Vero E6 cells system). Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), including time in range (TIR) and above range (TAR), were collected. The primary exposure and outcome measures were prevaccination glucose control, and antibody response after vaccination, respectively.

RESULTS

Prevaccination HbA1c was unrelated to postvaccine spike IgG (r = -0.33; P = .14). Of note, the CGM profile collected during the 2 weeks preceding BNT162b2 administration correlated with postvaccine IgG response (TIR: r = 0.75; P = .02; TAR: r = -0.81; P = .008). Patients meeting the recommended prevaccination glucose targets of TIR (≥ 70%) and TAR (≤ 25%) developed stronger neutralizing antibody titers (P < .0001 and P = .008, respectively), regardless of HbA1c. Glucose control along the study time frame was also associated with IgG response during follow-up (TIR: r = 0.93; P < .0001; TAR: r = -0.84; P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

In T1D, glucose profile during the 2 weeks preceding vaccination is associated with stronger spike antibody binding and neutralization, highlighting a role for well-controlled blood glucose in vaccination efficacy.

Correlation between COVID-19 vaccination and diabetes mellitus: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the current global public health threats and vaccination is the most effective tool to reduce the spread and decrease the severity of COVID-19. Diabetes is one of the important chronic diseases threatening human health and is a common comorbidity of COVID-19. What is the impact of diabetes on the immunization effect of COVID-19 vaccination? Conversely, does vaccination against COVID-19 exacerbate the severity of pre-existing diseases in patients with diabetes? There are limited and conflicting data on the interrelationship between diabetes and COVID-19 vaccination.

AIM

To explore the clinical factors and possible mechanisms underlying the interaction between COVID-19 vaccination and diabetes.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Reference Citation Analysis (https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com) online databases, and medRxiv and bioRxiv gray literature using the keywords "SARS-CoV-2", "COVID-19", "vaccine", "vaccination", "antibody", and "diabetes" individually or in combination, with a cut-off date of December 2, 2022. We followed inclusion and exclusion criteria and after excluding duplicate publications, studies with quantifiable evidence were included in the full-text review, plus three manually searched publications, resulting in 54 studies being included in this review.

RESULTS

A total of 54 studies were included, from 17 countries. There were no randomized controlled studies. The largest sample size was 350963. The youngest of the included samples was 5 years old and the oldest was 98 years old. The included population included the general population and also some special populations with pediatric diabetes, hemodialysis, solid organ transplantation, and autoimmune diseases. The earliest study began in November 2020. Thirty studies discussed the effect of diabetes on vaccination, with the majority indicating that diabetes reduces the response to COVID-19 vaccination. The other 24 studies were on the effect of vaccination on diabetes, which included 18 case reports/series. Most of the studies concluded that COVID-19 vaccination had a risk of causing elevated blood glucose. A total of 12 of the 54 included studies indicated a "no effect" relationship between diabetes and vaccination.

CONCLUSION

There is a complex relationship between vaccination and diabetes with a bidirectional effect. Vaccination may contribute to the risk of worsening blood glucose in diabetic patients and diabetic patients may have a lower antibody response after vaccination than the general population.

Diabetes, COVID-19, and questions unsolved

Recent evidence suggests a role for Diabetes Mellitus in adverse outcomes from COVID-19 infection; yet the underlying mechanisms are not clear. Moreover, attention has turned to prophylactic vaccination to protect the population from COVID-19-related illness and mortality. We performed a comprehensive peer-reviewed literature search on an array of key terms concerning diabetes and COVID-19 seeking to address the following questions: 1. What role does diabetes play as an accelerator for adverse outcomes in COVID-19?; 2. What mechanisms underlie the differences in outcomes seen in people with diabetes?; 3. Are vaccines against COVID-19 efficacious in people with diabetes? The current literature demonstrates that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19 infection, and post-COVID sequelae. Potential mechanisms include dysregulation of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2, Furin, CD147, and impaired immune cell responses. Hyperglycaemia is a key exacerbator of these mechanisms. Limited studies are available on COVID-19 vaccination in people with diabetes; however, the current literature suggests that vaccination is protective against adverse outcomes for this population. In summary, people with diabetes are a high-risk group that should be prioritised in vaccination efforts. Glycaemic optimisation is paramount to protecting this group from COVID-19-associated risk. Unsolved questions remain as to the molecular mechanisms underlying the adverse outcomes seen in people with diabetes; the functional impact of post-COVID symptoms on people with diabetes, their persistence, and management; how long-term vaccine efficacy is affected by diabetes, and the antibody levels that confer protection from adverse outcomes in COVID-19.

Current management of diabetes patients with COVID-19

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) appear to interact in both directions. There is mounting proof that patients with DM have a worse COVID-19 prognosis than those without it. Pharmacotherapy is also known to affect in view of the possible interplay between drugs and the pathophysiology of the above conditions in a given patient.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and its connections with diabetes mellitus. We also analyze the treatment modalities for COVID-19 and diabetes patients. The possible mechanisms of the different medications and their management limitations are also systematically reviewed.

EXPERT OPINION

COVID-19 management as well as its knowledge base is changing constantly. The Pharmacotherapy and the choice of drugs also need to be specifically considered in view of the concomitant presence of these conditions in a patient. Anti-diabetic agents must be carefully evaluated in diabetic patients in view of the disease's severity, blood glucose level, appropriate treatment, and other components that could aggravate adverse events. A methodical technique is anticipated to enable the safe and rational use of drug therapy in COVID-19-positive diabetic patients to take.

Reduced early response to SARS-CoV2 vaccination in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, a 6 months follow-up study: The CoVaDiab study I

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes mellitus worsens the prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and vaccination has been the major tool for reducing the risk of hospitalisation, and mortality. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in subjects with diabetes and controls. Differences between type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes and clinical determinants of vaccination response were also evaluated.

METHODS

128 subjects with diabetes (60 with T1D and 62 with T2D) and 202 subjects acting as controls who completed a full vaccination cycle with two doses of mRNA vaccine were enroled. People with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection were excluded. Antibodies (Ab) directed against the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated at one and 6 months after vaccination.

RESULTS

In the whole cohort, the Ab level was higher among women than in men (p = 0.011) and negatively correlated with age (rho = -0.155, p = 0.005). Subjects with diabetes showed decreased levels of Ab after one month compared to controls (1217[747-1887]BAU/mL vs. 1477[942-2556]BAU/mL, p = 0.002), even after correction for age and gender (p = 0.002). No difference was found between subjects with T1D and T2D. After 6 months, antibody levels significantly decreased in people with and without diabetes, with no differences between groups, although some subjects were lost at follow-up. In subjects with diabetes, only a significant correlation was found between Ab level and renal function (rho 0.190, p = 0.042).

CONCLUSIONS

Both T1D and T2D are associated with a reduced early response to vaccination. The serum concentration of Ab significantly reduced over time in both groups, highlighting the relevance of vaccination boosters independently of the presence of diabetes.

A metabolic blueprint of COVID-19 and long-term vaccine efficacy

Viruses are obligatory protein-coated units and often utilize the metabolic functions of the cells they infect. Viruses hijack cellular metabolic functions and cause consequences that can range from minor to devastating, as we have all witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. For understanding the virus-driven pathogenesis and its implications on the host, the cellular metabolism needs to be elucidated. How SARS-CoV-2 triggers metabolic functions and rewires the metabolism remains unidentified but the implications of the metabolic patterns are under investigation by several researchers. In this review, we have described the SARS-CoV-2-mediated metabolic alterations from in vitro studies to metabolic changes reported in victims of COVID-19. We have also discussed potential therapeutic targets to diminish the viral infection and suppress the inflammatory response, with respect to evidenced studies based on COVID-19 research. Finally, we aimed to explain how we could extend vaccine-induced immunity in people by targeting the immunometabolism.

Current management of diabetes patients with COVID-19

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) appear to interact in both directions. There is mounting proof that patients with DM have a worse COVID-19 prognosis than those without it. Pharmacotherapy is also known to affect in view of the possible interplay between drugs and the pathophysiology of the above conditions in a given patient.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and its connections with diabetes mellitus. We also analyze the treatment modalities for COVID-19 and diabetes patients. The possible mechanisms of the different medications and their management limitations are also systematically reviewed.

EXPERT OPINION

COVID-19 management as well as its knowledge base is changing constantly. The Pharmacotherapy and the choice of drugs also need to be specifically considered in view of the concomitant presence of these conditions in a patient. Anti-diabetic agents must be carefully evaluated in diabetic patients in view of the disease's severity, blood glucose level, appropriate treatment, and other components that could aggravate adverse events. A methodical technique is anticipated to enable the safe and rational use of drug therapy in COVID-19-positive diabetic patients to take.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus present similar immunological response to COVID-19 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine to healthy subjects: a prospective cohort study

AIM

To compare the kinetics of neutralizing antibodies (NΑbs) against SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine (Comirnaty, Pfizer/BioNTech) between patients with T2DM and healthy controls.

METHODS

NAb levels after the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine were compared between 50 patients with non-insulin treated T2DM and 50 age-, gender-, and BMI-matched healthy controls up to 3 months after the second dose. The median age of both groups was 70 years.

RESULTS

On day 1, mean NAbs of the control and T2DM groups were 14.64% (standard error, SE = 2.30) and 14.04% (SE = 2.14), respectively (p value = 0.926). Three weeks later, the mean NAb values were 39.98% (SE = 3.53) in the control group and 40.97% (SE = 3.99) in participants with T2DM (p value = 0.698). One month after the second vaccination, mean NAb values increased to 87.13% (SE = 2.94) in the control group and 89.00% (SE = 2.18) in the T2DM group. Three months after the second vaccine dose, the mean inhibitory titers decreased to 83.49% (SE = 3.82) (control group) and 76.36% (SE = 3.33) (T2DM group). On all occasions, no significant difference was found between the two groups (all p values > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with T2DM present similar immunological response to COVID-19 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine to that of healthy subjects.

COVID-19 pandemic and hypertension: an updated report from the Japanese Society of Hypertension project team on COVID-19

The number of reported cases with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has exceeded 620 million worldwide, still having a profound impact on people's health and daily lives since its occurrence and outbreak in December 2019. From the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a concern that the rapid spread of this communicable disease can negatively influence non-communicable diseases. Accumulating data indicate that the restriction on the access to medical care, psychological distress, and life-style changes triggered by the pandemic have indeed affected blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. Since our previous report in 2020 that summarized the findings of the literature related to COVID-19 and hypertension, there has been a considerable progress in our understanding of the association between these two disorders; nonetheless, there are remaining challenges and emerging questions in the field. In this article, we aim to summarize the latest information on the impact of the pandemic on blood pressure control, the use of the renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in patients with COVID-19, and the blood pressure changes as one of the possible post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (also known as long COVID). We also summarize the evidence of telemedicine and COVID-19 vaccination in hypertensive subjects, based on data available as of June 2022.

Impaired antibody responses were observed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after receiving the inactivated COVID-19 vaccines

BACKGROUND

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been reported to be more susceptible to 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and more likely to develop severe pneumonia. However, the safety and immunological responses of T2DM patients after receiving the inactivated vaccines are not quite definite. Therefore, we aimed to explore the safety, antibody responses, and B-cell immunity of T2DM patients who were vaccinated with inactivated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines.

METHODS

Eighty-nine patients with T2DM and 100 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled, all of whom had received two doses of full-course inactivated vaccines. At 21-105 days after full-course vaccines: first, the safety of the vaccines was assessed by questionnaires; second, the titers of anti-receptor binding domain IgG (anti-RBD-IgG) and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) were measured; third, we detected the frequency of RBD-specific memory B cells (RBD-specific MBCs) to explore the cellular immunity of T2DM patients.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of adverse events was similar between T2DM patients and HCs, and no serious adverse events were recorded in either group. Compared with HCs, significantly lower titers of anti-RBD-IgG (p = 0.004) and NAbs (p = 0.013) were observed in T2DM patients. Moreover, the frequency of RBD-specific MBCs was lower in T2DM patients than in HCs (p = 0.027). Among the 89 T2DM patients, individuals with lower body mass index (BMI) had higher antibody titers (anti-RBD-IgG: p = 0.009; NAbs: p = 0.084). Furthermore, we found that sex, BMI, and days after vaccination were correlated with antibody titers.

CONCLUSIONS

Inactivated COVID-19 vaccines were safe in patients with T2DM, but the antibody responses and memory B-cell responses were significantly decreased compared to HCs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER AND DATE

NCT05043246. September 14, 2021. (Clinical Trials.gov).

Diabetes and the COVID-19 pandemic

Almost immediately after the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus emerged, it was evident that people with chronic diseases, including diabetes, were disproportionately affected, with an increased risk of hospitalisation and mortality. Over the ensuing 2 years, the indirect effects of the pandemic on healthcare delivery in the short term have become prominent, along with the lingering effects of the virus in those directly infected. In the wake of the pandemic and without any evidence from high quality studies, a number of national and international consensus recommendations were published, which were subsequently rapidly updated based on observational studies. There have been unprecedented disruptions from both direct and indirect impacts of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in people with diabetes. In this review, we summarise the impact of acute COVID-19 in people with diabetes, discuss how the presentation and epidemiology during the pandemic, including presentation of diabetic ketoacidosis and new-onset diabetes, has changed, and we consider the wider impact of the pandemic on patients and healthcare service delivery, including some of the areas of uncertainty. Finally, we make recommendations on prioritising patients as we move into the recovery phase and also how we protect people with diabetes for the future, as COVID-19 is likely to become endemic.

Only Subclinical Alterations in the Haemostatic System of People with Diabetes after COVID-19 Vaccination

People with diabetes have an increased risk of experiencing adverse COVID-19 outcomes. COVID-19 vaccination is, therefore, highly recommended. However, people with diabetes have an inherently elevated risk of thrombotic events and the impact of the vaccination on the coagulation system in this patient population remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the haemostatic system in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. We evaluated the effects of COVID-19 vaccination (BioNTech Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca) on standard coagulation parameters, whole blood coagulation (Thrombelastometry), platelet function (impedance aggregation), and thrombin generation (calibrated automated thrombography) in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (n = 41) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 37). Blood sampling points were prior to vaccination and two weeks after the respective vaccination. Thrombelastometry measurements indicated moderately increased clot formation post-vaccination in people with type 1, as well as with type 2, diabetes: "Clot formation times" were significantly shorter, and both "maximum clot firmness" and "alpha angles" were significantly higher, as compared to the respective pre-vaccination values. Therefore, TEM parameters were not altered after vaccination in patients receiving ASA. Moreover, platelet aggregation was enhanced in people with type 1 diabetes, and plasma levels of D-Dimer were increased in people with type 2 diabetes, following COVID-19 vaccination. All other standard coagulation parameters, as well as thrombin generation, were not affected by the vaccination. The coagulation responses of people with diabetes to COVID-19 vaccination were only subclinical and comparable to those observed in healthy individuals. Our findings suggest that people with diabetes do not face an increased activation of the coagulation post-vaccination.

The impact of COVID-19 vaccination on glycaemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus on continuous glucose monitoring

AIMS

To investigate the impact of SARS-COV-2 vaccination on the glycaemic control in children and adolescents with T1DM wearing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).

METHODS

Caregivers of children and adolescents with T1DM were questioned regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccination during their regular visits at the Pediatric Diabetes Outpatient Clinic. Data regarding Time in Range (TIR) (glucose levels: 70-180 mg/dl) 7 days prior and 7 days after a vaccination dose were collected in patients wearing CGM and data regarding insulin daily doses were also obtained for the insulin pump users.

RESULTS

From a total of 135 patients eligible for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, 70 (51.9%) children (37 boys, 52.9%) were vaccinated with at least one dose. Seven patients received only one dose, whereas two children received a third booster shot. No statistically significant difference was observed in either TIR (64.19% post vs. 65.53% pre, p = 0.158) or total daily insulin dose (40.08 U/day post vs. 39.32 U/day pre, p = 0,282). Additionally, in ten patients on Hybrid Closed-Loop System the percentage of the automated insulin boluses given post-vaccination was not statistically significant different compared to the boluses given pre-vaccination (15.80% vs. 16.90%, p = 0,491).

CONCLUSIONS

Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents with T1DM is safe and is not associated with immediate glucose imbalance.

Diabetes Affects Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Older Residents of Long-term Care Facilities: Data From the GeroCovid Vax Study

OBJECTIVE

Type 2 diabetes may affect the humoral immune response after vaccination, but data concerning coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) vaccines are scarce. We evaluated the impact of diabetes on antibody response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination in older residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and tested for differences according to antidiabetic treatment.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

For this analysis, 555 older residents of LTCFs participating in the GeroCovid Vax study were included. SARS-CoV-2 trimeric S immunoglobulin G (anti-S IgG) concentrations using chemiluminescent assays were tested before the first dose and after 2 and 6 months. The impact of diabetes on anti-S IgG levels was evaluated using linear mixed models, which included the interaction between time and presence of diabetes. A second model also considered diabetes treatment: no insulin therapy (including dietary only or use of oral antidiabetic agents) and insulin therapy (alone or in combination with oral antidiabetic agents).

RESULTS

The mean age of the sample was 82.1 years, 68.1% were women, and 25.2% had diabetes. In linear mixed models, presence of diabetes was associated with lower anti-S IgG levels at 2 (β = -0.20; 95% CI -0.34, -0.06) and 6 months (β = -0.22; 95% CI -0.37, -0.07) after the first vaccine dose. Compared with those without diabetes, residents with diabetes not using insulin had lower IgG levels at 2- and 6-month assessments (β = -0.24; 95% CI -0.43, -0.05 and β = -0.30; 95% CI -0.50, -0.10, respectively), whereas no differences were observed for those using insulin.

CONCLUSIONS

Older residents of LTCFs with diabetes tended to have weaker antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination. Insulin treatment might buffer this effect and establish humoral immunity similar to that in individuals without diabetes.

Immunogenicity of an mRNA-Based COVID-19 Vaccine among Adolescents with Obesity or Liver Transplants

There are limited data regarding the immunogenicity of mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BNT162b2 among immunosuppressed or obese adolescents. We evaluated the humoral immune response in adolescents with obesity and adolescent liver transplant recipients (LTRs) after receiving two BNT162b2 doses. Sixty-eight participants (44 males; mean age 14.9 ± 1.7 years), comprising 12 LTRs, 24 obese, and 32 healthy adolescents, were enrolled. Immunogenicity was evaluated by anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein immunoassay and surrogate viral neutralization tests (sVNT) against the Delta and Omicron (BA.1) variants. At 27.1 ± 3.2 days after the second dose, the antibody levels were 1476.6 ± 1185.4, 2999.4 ± 1725.9, and 4960.5 ± 2644.1 IU/mL in the LTRs, obese adolescents, and controls, respectively (p < 0.001). Among obese individuals, liver stiffness <5.5 kPa was associated with higher antibody levels. The %inhibition of sVNT was significantly lower for the Omicron than that for the Delta variant. Injection site pain was the most common local adverse event. Nine participants (three obese and six controls) developed COVID-19 at 49 ± 11 days after the second vaccination; four were treated with favipiravir. All infections were mild, and the patients recovered without any consequences. Our study supports the need for the booster regimen in groups with an inferior immunogenic response, including LTRs and obese individuals.

Comparing the B and T cell-mediated immune responses in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving mRNA or inactivated COVID-19 vaccines

Acquiring protective immunity through vaccination is essential, especially for patients with type 2 diabetes who are vulnerable for adverse clinical outcomes during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with immune dysfunction. Here, we evaluated the impact of T2D on the immunological responses induced by mRNA (BNT162b2) and inactivated (CoronaVac) vaccines, the two most commonly used COVID-19 vaccines. The study consisted of two parts. In Part 1, the sera titres of IgG antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) alpha receptor binding domain (RBD), their neutralizing capacity, and antigen-specific CD4⁺T and CD8⁺T cell responses at 3-6 months after vaccination were compared between BNT162b2 (n=60) and CoronaVac (n=50) vaccinees with or without T2D. Part 2 was a time-course study investigating the initial B and T cell responses induced by BNT162b2 among vaccinees (n=16) with or without T2D. Our data showed that T2D impaired both cellular and humoral immune responses induced by CoronaVac. For BNT162b2, T2D patients displayed a reduction in CD4⁺T-helper 1 (Th1) differentiation following their first dose. However, this initial defect was rectified by the second dose of BNT162b2, resulting in comparable levels of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺T cells, anti-RBD IgG, and neutralizing antibodies with healthy individuals at 3-6 months after vaccination. Hence, T2D influences the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines depending on their platform. Our findings provide a potential mechanism for the susceptibility of developing adverse outcomes observed in COVID-19 patients with T2D and received either CoronaVac or just one dose of BNT162b2.

Immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with diabetes mellitus: A systematic review

Purpose

To evaluate the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) through a systematic approach.

Method

A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science with no time restrictions. The search was based on the three main concepts: Covid-19, Vaccine immunogenicity and Diabetes Mellitus.

Results

After excluding irrelevant studies, 16 studies remained for the quantitative assay. Among the sixteen studies, eleven had controls. Type of diabetes was specifically mentioned in six studies (T2DM; n=4, T1DM and T2DM; n=2). Twelve of the included studies were conducted on the immunogenicity of vaccines that included mRNA vaccines (i.e. BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273) in DM, five studies included vector-based vaccines (i.e. Ad5-nCoV and ChAdOx1-S), and five studies assessed the immunogenicity of vaccines in DM, including inactivated vaccines (i.e. BBV-152, CoronaVac, Sinopharm or SinoVac). Most of the current studies indicate lower antibody response in patients with DM compared to individuals without DM, after the second dose of vaccine and irrespective of vaccine type. Several studies have shown that higher age and higher BMI are associated with lower antibody response, while optimum glycemic control and higher GFR are associated with higher antibody response among patients with DM.

Conclusion

Immunogenicity of the vaccines has mostly been reported to be lower among patients with DM compared to healthy controls. There are also few studies assessing variables that significantly affect this association, including age, type of diabetes, BMI, glycemic control and eGFR. Investigating these associations could help us provide the most advantageous condition for patients with DM before, during and after vaccination for optimum antibody response. Many unresolved issues concerning potential factors affecting vaccine immunogenicity, including type of vaccine, numbers of administered doses, re-vaccination intervals and hyperglycemia in patients with DM need to be addressed through future research.

Immunogenicity of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine in New Zealand adults

Background

There is very little known about SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immune responses in New Zealand populations at greatest risk for serious COVID-19 disease.

Methods

This prospective cohort study assessed immunogenicity in BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine recipients in New Zealand without previous COVID-19, with enrichment for Māori, Pacific peoples, older adults ≥ 65 years of age, and those with co-morbidities. Serum samples were analysed at baseline and 28 days after second dose for presence of quantitative anti-S IgG by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay and for neutralizing capacity against Wuhan, Beta, Delta, and Omicron BA.1 strains using a surrogate viral neutralisation assay.

Results

285 adults with median age of 52 years were included. 55% were female, 30% were Māori, 28% were Pacific peoples, and 26% were ≥ 65 years of age. Obesity, cardiac and pulmonary disease and diabetes were more common than in the general population. All participants received 2 doses of BNT162b2 vaccine. At 28 days after second vaccination, 99.6% seroconverted to the vaccine, and anti-S IgG and neutralising antibody levels were high across gender and ethnic groups. IgG and neutralising responses declined with age. Lower responses were associated with age ≥ 75 and diabetes, but not BMI. The ability to neutralise the Omicron BA.1 variant in vitro was severely diminished but maintained against other variants of concern.

Conclusions

Vaccine antibody responses to BNT162b2 were generally robust and consistent with international data in this COVID-19 naïve cohort with representation of key populations at risk for COVID-19 morbidity. Subsequent data on response to boosters, durability of responses and cellular immune responses should be assessed with attention to elderly adults and diabetics.

BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Does Not Impact the Honeymoon Phase in Type 1 Diabetes: A Case Report

Type 1 diabetes (T1D), which is caused by the autoimmune destruction of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells, represents a high-risk category requiring COVID-19 vaccine prioritization. Although COVID-19 vaccination can lead to transient hyperglycemia (vaccination-induced hyperglycemia; ViHG), its influence on the course of the clinical remission phase of T1D (a.k.a. “honeymoon phase”) is currently unknown. Recently, there has been an increasing concern that COVID-19 vaccination may trigger autoimmune phenomena. We describe the case of a 24-year-old young Italian man with T1D who received two doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccine during a prolonged honeymoon phase. He experienced a transient impairment in glucose control (as evidenced by continuous glucose monitoring) that was not associated with substantial changes in stimulated C-peptide levels and islet autoantibody titers. Nonetheless, large prospective studies are needed to confirm the safety and the immunometabolic impact of the BNT162b2 vaccine in T1D patients during the honeymoon phase. Thus far, T1D patients who are going to receive COVID-19 vaccination should be warned about the possible occurrence of transient ViHG and should undergo strict postvaccination surveillance.

Differential Dynamics of Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity with Three Doses of BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Healthcare Workers in Japan: A Prospective Cohort Study

Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 with good efficacy are now available worldwide. However, gained immunity diminishes over time. Here, we investigate the course of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity in response to three doses of the Pfizer mRNA BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in healthcare workers in Japan. SARS-CoV-2 anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) antibodies (total Ig, IgG), neutralizing antibodies (NAb), and ELISpot were measured in serum and whole blood samples collected after each vaccine dose. ELISpot numbers were higher than the cutoff values in most participants at all times. It was suggested that the difference in behavior between humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity with age is complementary. Anti-RBD total Ig, IgG, and NAb indicated a high correlation at each time point after vaccine doses. Total Ig was retained long-term after the second dose and increased significantly faster by the booster dose than IgG. Nab levels of all subjects were ≤20% six months after the second dose, and the correlation coefficient was greatly reduced. These are due to the avidity of each antibody and differences among commercial kits, which may affect the evaluation of immunokinetics in previous COVID-19 studies. Therefore, it is necessary to harmonize reagents categorized by the same characteristics.

Humoral Response to mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: Is Boostering After Six Months Adequate?

In dialysis patients the humoral response to anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is attenuated and rapidly declines over time. However, data on the persistence of the immune response in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are scarce, particularly after a third (booster) dose with mRNA-1273 vaccine. In this prospective cohort study, we report anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in PD patients before and after the third dose of mRNA-1273 vaccine. Six months after the second dose, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in all patients (n = 34). However, within this time period antibodies substantially declined in 31 of 34 patients (4.5-fold, median = 192 BAU/mL, p = 1.27 × 10^–9) and increased in three patients. In accordance with government regulations, a third dose of mRNA-1273 vaccine (50 μg) was given to 27 PD patients 6 months after the second dose which induced a significant increase of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers (58.6-fold, median = 19405 BAU/mL, p = 1.24 × 10^–29). A mixed model analysis showed that a lower Davies Comorbidity Score and a higher GFR were associated with higher antibody titers (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02). The most common adverse events after the third dose were pain at the injection site (77.8%) and fatigue (51.9%). No hospitalizations were reported. In conclusion, 6 months after the second dose of mRNA-1273 vaccine, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies substantially decreased in PD patients, whereas a well-tolerated third dose induced a robust humoral response. Our data suggest that the administration of a booster dose within a shorter interval than 6 months should be considered in PD patients in order to maintain high anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels and assure protection from severe COVID-19 disease.

Impaired Humoral Immunity with Concomitant Preserved T Cell Reactivity in IBD Patients on Treatment with Infliximab 6 Month after Vaccination with the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2: A Pilot Study

Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The most important approach to prevent severe disease progression and to contain the pandemic is the use of COVID-19 vaccines. The aim of this study was to investigate the humoral and cellular response in immunosuppressed patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on treatment with anti-TNF (infliximab, adalimumab) and anti-α4ß7-Integrin (vedolizumab) 6 months after mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 compared to healthy subjects. Methods: In this prospective study, 20 IBD patients and 9 healthy controls were included 6 months after the second BNT162b2 vaccination. In addition to quantitative determination of IgG antibody levels against the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein subunit S1, a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate neutralization test (sVNT) was used to assess potential neutralization capacity. SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses were measured using an interferon-γ (IFN-γ) release assay (IGRA; Euroimmun Medical Laboratory Diagnostics, Lübeck, Germany). Results: S-IgG could still be detected in the majority of IBD patients 6 months after second vaccination. Compared to healthy controls, IBD patients treated with anti-TNF agents showed both lower neutralizing activity in sVNT (percent inhibition of ACE2 receptor binding by RBD protein) and lower IgG-S (AU/mL) antibody levels (AB) (sVNT: 79% vs. 2%, p < 0. 001; AB: 1018 AU/mL vs. 141 AU/mL, p = 0.025). In contrast, patients on therapy with vedolizumab showed no impairment in humoral immune response (sVNT, S-IgG) compared with healthy controls. Specific T-cellular reactivity was detected in 73% of IBD patients and in 67% of healthy controls independent of immunosuppressive therapy (anti-TNF., vedolizumab) (p = 0.189). Conclusion: Six months after BNT162b2 vaccination, this study found significantly decreased antibody levels in patients under anti-TNF therapy. IBD patients under anti-TNF and vedolizumab therapy had no impairment of T-cellular reactivity compared to healthy controls at this time point. Further studies with larger collectives for confirmation should follow.

Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 Vaccine in People with Diabetes: A Prospective Observational Study

The mRNA-based BNT162b2 vaccine has demonstrated high efficacy against severe SARS-CoV-2. However, data regarding immune response in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) after vaccination with the BNT162b2 vaccine are limited. In this prospective observational study, we examined humoral immune response in participants with and without DM after vaccination with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. A total of 174 participants (58 with and 116 without diabetes, matched for age) were included. Antibodies were measured 21 days after the first dose, 7−15 days after the second dose, and 70−75 days after the second and before the third dose of the vaccine. Antibodies were measured by an anti-SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain IgG (Abs-RBD-IgG) assay by a chemiluminescent microparticle immune assay; values > 50 AU/mL are considered protective from severe disease. Almost 17% of participants with DM did not develop adequate humoral immune response to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine after the first dose; however, it was high and similar after the second dose in both participants with and without DM and remained so almost 2 months after the second dose of the vaccine. Geometric mean values of Abs-RBD-IgG were not significantly different between participants with and without DM during the study. At least two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine are necessary to ensure adequate and sustainable immune response in people with DM.

Antibody response following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIM

DM patients' antibody response after the COVID-19 vaccine is still unknown amid the COVID-19 vaccination rollout. This study aimed to explore the SARS-CoV-2 antibody response or seropositivity among DM patients following the COVID-19 vaccine administration.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of the literature consisting of observational or cross-sectional studies, which reported the antibody serology or seropositivity among DM patients by following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

RESULTS

Eight studies with a total of 64468 patients were identified, and 5156 (7.9%) of them had diabetes. Most studies showed that antibody response and seropositivity in DM patients were lower than healthy population after one until four weeks following full COVID-19 vaccination dose.

CONCLUSION

The antibody response and seropositivity after the COVID-19 vaccine in DM patients were lower than in healthy subjects. Therefore, DM patients are expected to receive vaccines according to the dose and schedule appropriately and might be prioritized to receive vaccine boosters.

Humoral Immune Response in IBD Patients Three and Six Months after Vaccination with the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccines mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronovirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Vaccination is considered the core approach to containing the pandemic. There is currently insufficient evidence on the efficacy of these vaccines in immunosuppressed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the humoral response in immunosuppressed IBD patients after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. In this prospective study, IgG antibody levels (AB) against the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (spike-protein) were quantitatively determined. For assessing the potential neutralizing capacity, a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate neutralization test (sVNT) was employed in IBD patients (n = 95) and healthy controls (n = 38). Sera were examined prior to the first/second vaccination and 3/6 months after second vaccination. Patients showed lower sVNT (%) and IgG-S (AU/mL) AB both before the second vaccination (sVNT p < 0.001; AB p < 0.001) and 3 (sVNT p = 0.002; AB p = 0.001) and 6 months (sVNT p = 0.062; AB p = 0.061) after the second vaccination. Although seroconversion rates (sVNT, IgG-S) did not differ between the two groups 3 months after second vaccination, a significant difference was seen 6 months after second vaccination (sVNT p = 0.045). Before and three months after the second vaccination, patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents showed significantly lower AB than healthy subjects. In conclusion, an early booster shot vaccination should be discussed for IBD patients on anti-TNF therapy.

COVID-19 and diabetes-Two giants colliding: From pathophysiology to management

Since December 2019, a new coronavirus, called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread around the world, causing the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. From the beginning, SARS-CoV-2 has put a strain on the health system. In fact, many patients have had severe forms of the disease with the need for hospitalization due to respiratory failure. To contain the pandemic, the most widely used approach has been lockdowns. Social restrictions have been reduced thanks to the development of vaccines and targeted therapies. However, fatal events still occur among people at high risk of serious infection, such as patients with concomitant diabetes. Different mechanisms have been proposed to explain the poor prognosis of patients with diabetes and COVID-19, but the specific cause is unclear. It is now known that insulin resistance, inflammation, and cytokine storm are involved. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors to enter cells. This receptor is expressed on pancreatic beta cells and, during infection, it appears that receptor involvement may induce hyperglycemia in patients with or without diabetes. In this study, we discuss the mechanisms underlying the poor prognosis in people with COVID-19 and diabetes and what may improve the outcome in these patients.

Effect of Comorbid Diabetes on Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients Infected by the Wild-Type or Delta Variant of SARS-CoV-2

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is one of the most common comorbidities in COVID-19 patients that pertains to disease severity, but the causal mechanism regarding its negative impact on COVID-19 outcome has yet been uncovered.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 459 COVID-19 patients admitted in early 2020 and 336 COVID-19 patients admitted in August 2021, with their demographic information, medical history, vaccination status (if applied), and laboratory data reported.

RESULTS

Among COVID-19 patients, compared to the non-diabetic group, the diabetic group exhibited elder age, higher proportion of patients with other major comorbidities, more severe dysfunction of innate immune cells, more refractory blood coagulopathy and more detrimental organ damage. For the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 infection, diabetic comorbidity was associated with COVID-19 severity but not mortality, and the glycemic levels in the non-diabetic group upon infection experienced high and analogous to those in the diabetic group. Besides, infected by the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, the non-diabetic patients did not demonstrate hyperglycemia, and despite different vaccination statuses, the diabetic patients exhibited comparable antibody responses to non-diabetic, showing the robustness of acquired immunity.

CONCLUSIONS

SARS-CoV-2 infection may superimpose the deterioration of innate immune systems in diabetic patients, which contributes to their worsened disease outcome, but timely COVID-19 immunization could provide adequate protection in diabetic population that leads to favored prognosis.