Influence of Prior Infection With COVID-19 on Occurrence of Influenza-like Illness or Acute Respiratory Infection

Summary

Background: Each Belgian winter season is characterized by a wave of influenza like and respiratory symptoms. Especially, the elderly people are more vulnerable to be infected by influenza, but also RSV. The recent COVID-19 pandemic and eventually a next wave, will increase the prevalence of influenza like and respiratory symptoms.

Method: A multicentre non-commercial cohort study will be conducted in nursing home staff and residents during the Winter season 2020-2021.

Objectives: Primary objective is the difference in incidence of influenza like and respiratory symptoms between cases (cases have evidence of past infection with SARS-CoV-2, referred to as Covid +) and controls (controls have no evidence of previous infection and are referred to as Covid -). The primary outcome analysis as well as the secondary outcome analyses will use two strata: nursing home staff and nursing home residents. The secondary objectives are the difference in incidence of COVID-19, influenza, RSV infections confirmed by PCR between cases and controls, to define a correlate of protection in the covid + group against re-infection with SARS-CoV-2 based on the study of the pre-existing antibody profile (antigen specificity, antibody type and antibody level) at the time of re-exposure. A multiplex assay will be used to assess the antibody profile. Finally, to study the COVID-19 disease severity (7 point WHO ordinal scale, this includes a.o. hospitalisation, mechanical ventilation need and ICU admission, mortality) based on the presence/absence of pre-existing antibodies and the pre-existing antibody profile. For other respiratory infections we will study the need for hospitalization and mortality.

Conditions

• Influenza, Human
• SARS Virus
• COVID-19
• Espiratory Tract Infections

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

qRT-PCR and serology

qRT-PCR and serology

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mensura EDPB

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium

  collaborator OTHER

• Université Libre de Bruxelles

  collaborator OTHER

• Sciensano

  lead OTHER_GOV

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-09-24

Primary Completion

2022-11-30

Completion

2022-12-31

Countries

• Belgium

Study Locations