Frailty and COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Antibody Response in the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership. Issue 7 (21st April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Semelka, Charles T; DeWitt, Michael E; Callahan, Kathryn E; Herrington, David M; Alexander-Miller, Martha A; Yukich, Joshua O; Munawar, Iqra; McCurdy, Lewis H; Gibbs, Michael A; Weintraub, William S; Sanders, John W
• Editors: Lipsitz, Lewis A
• Is Part Of: Journals of gerontology. Volume 77:Issue 7(2022)
• Page Start: 1366
• Page End: 1370
• Publication Date: 2022-04-21
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Frailty -- Immune function; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glac095
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1079-5006

Abstract

Abstract: Background: COVID-19 has disproportionately affected older adults. Frailty has been associated with impaired vaccine response in other vaccine types, but the impact of frailty on mRNA vaccine response is undefined. Methods: Observational study of adults aged 55 and older from 1 U.S. health care system between January 22, 2021 and September 16, 2021 with self-reported Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 mRNA vaccine and an electronic frailty index (eFI) score from their medical record ( n = 1 677). Participants' frailty status was compared with positive antibody detection (seroconversion) following full vaccination and subsequent loss of positive antibody detection (seroreversion) using logistic regression models. Results: Of 1 677 older adults with median (interquartile range) age, 67 (62 and 72) years, and frailty status (nonfrail: 879 [52%], prefrail: 678 [40%], and frail: 120 [7.2%]), seroconversion was not detected in 23 (1.4%) over 60 days following full vaccination. Frail individuals were less likely to seroconvert than nonfrail individuals, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.75, 95% confidence interval (CI; 1.04, 13.5). Seroreversion was detected in 50/1 631 individuals (3.1%) over 6 months of median follow-up antibody testing. Frail individuals were more likely to serorevert than nonfrail individuals, adjusted OR 3.02, 95% CI (1.17, 7.33). Conclusion: Overall antibody response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccination was high across age and frailty categories. While antibody detection is an incomplete descriptor of vaccine response, the high sensitivity of this antibody combined with health-system data reinforce our conclusions that frailty is an independent predictor of impaired antibody response to the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Frailty should be considered in vaccine studies and prevention strategies.