Long-term Immune Protection in COVID-19 Patients [LIPiC, study data contributed to the CITF Databank]

<b>Background:</b> Understanding the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is crucial in determining if individuals are protected after COVID-19 infection and vaccination, and for how long the protection lasts. <br>

<b>Aims of the CITF co-funded study:</b> This study aimed to characterize the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 by 1) measuring individuals’ circulating antibodies to evaluate their ability to neutralize SARS-CoV-2; 2) study the memory immune cells that are involved in long-term protection; and 3) compare the short and long-term immune response after infection and vaccination. <br>

<b>Methods:</b> This cohort study enrolled patients identified by their treating physicians at 4 hospitals in the Hamilton Ontario area into COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative cohorts. The positive cohort was comprised of individuals who recovered from COVID-19 infection and tested positive by RT-PCR. The negative cohort was comprised of individuals who recovered from COVID-19 infection and tested negative by RT-PCR. These participants provided blood samples at baseline (14 days after symptoms began), 6 months, and 1 year later to be tested for antibodies. This study also enrolled non-infected individuals who were planning to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, selected from the general population. They provided blood samples at baseline, 3 weeks post first dose and second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 6 months and 12 months post vaccination to be tested for antibodies. <br>

<b>Contributed dataset contents: </b>
Summary of the contributed data: The datasets include 302 participants (194 positive, 88 negative, 20 missing information of COVID test) who completed a baseline visit between May 2020 and Jan 2021. 278 participants gave one or more blood samples at baseline and during follow-up visits up to Sep 2022. A total of 727 blood samples were collected. Variables include data in the following areas of information: demographics (age, sex), longitudinal follow-up for COVID infections (symptoms, hospitalization and COVID tests), vaccination and serology.