Introduction
infections
INFECTIONS
Population immunity against SARS-CoV-2 plays a key role in the course of the pandemic and determines morbidity and mortality of COVID-19At the beginning of 2022, a rapid surge of infections was detected worldwide and driven by the Omicron variant BA.1 that exhibited substantial immune evasion propertiesIn this multicenter-study, we determined SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S)-IgG levels, Nucleocapsid (NC)-IgG levels, and serum neutralization against Wu01, BA.4/5 and BQ.1.1 in 1411 patients that received medical treatment at emergency departments of five university hospitals (maximum care hospitals) in North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany, between August and September 2022. We analyzed IgG levels and neutralization activity together with detailed information on the medical history and SARS-CoV-2 immune status of the participants. Finally, we conducted multivariable and Bayesian network analyses to provide a better understanding of factors associated with the quantity and quality of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2. Our results inform on SARS-CoV-2 immune status and its predictive factors, which helps to assess COVID-19 risk in highly vulnerable groups.