Abstract
Following the outbreak of COVID-19, multidisciplinary research focusing on the long-term effects of the COVID-19 infection and the ‘complete longer term recovery’ is still scarce. With regards to long-term consequences, biomarkers of physiological effects as well as the psychological experiences are of significant importance for comprehensively understanding the whole COVID-19 recovery period. The present research surveys the IgG antibody titers and the impact of COVID-19 as a traumatic experience in the aftermath of the active infection period, around two months after diagnosis, in a subset of COVID-19 patients from the first wave of the outbreak in Northern Cyprus. Associations of antibody titers and psychological survey measures with baseline characteristics and disease severity were explored, and correlations among various measures were evaluated. Of the 47 serology tests conducted for presence of IgG antibodies, 39 (83%) were positive. We identified trends demonstrating individuals experiencing severe or critical COVID-19 disease and/or those with comorbidities are more heavily impacted both physiologically and mentally, with higher IgG titers and negative psychological experience compared to those with milder disease and without comorbidities. We also observed that more than half of the COVID-19 cases had negative psychological experiences, being subjected to discrimination and verbal harassment/insult, by family/friends. In summary, as the first study co-evaluating immune response together with mental status, our findings suggest that further multidisciplinary research in larger sample populations as well as community intervention plans are needed to holistically address the physiological and psychological effects of COVID-19 among the cases in the long-term.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Funding Statement
COVID-19 test kits and other materials used in the study were provided by the Health Authority in Northern Cyprus, who supported the study. T.K. was supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (grant NNF14CC0001). None of the remaining authors were supported by external funding for the work conducted on the manuscript.
Author Declarations
I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.
Yes
The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:
The study has been reviewed and approved by the International Cyprus University Ethics Committee.
All necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived.
Yes
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Yes
Footnotes
↵** co-senior authors
Data Availability
The datasets generated for this study are available upon request to the corresponding author.