Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40139840›Full record

ArticleBMJ open respiratory research2025

Protection conferred by SARS-CoV-2 infection across a spectrum of reinfection symptoms and severities.

Layan Sukik, Hiam Chemaitelly, Houssein H Ayoub, Peter Coyle, Patrick Tang, Mohammad R Hasan, Hadi M Yassine, Asmaa A Al Thani, Zaina Al-Kanaani, Einas Al-Kuwari and 13 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open respiratory research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

23 authors.

Layan SukikInfectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7618-9688
Hiam ChemaitellyInfectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8756-6968
Houssein H AyoubMathematics Program, Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Peter CoyleDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Patrick TangDepartment of Pathology, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
Mohammad R HasanDepartment of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Hadi M YassineDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Asmaa A Al ThaniDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Zaina Al-KanaaniHamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Einas Al-KuwariHamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Andrew JeremijenkoHamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Anvar Hassan KaleeckalHamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Ali Nizar LatifHamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Riyazuddin Mohammad ShaikHamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Hanan F Abdul-RahimDepartment of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Gheyath K NasrallahDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Mohamed Ghaith Al-KuwariPrimary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Adeel ButtDepartment of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.
Hamad Eid Al-RomaihiMinistry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar.
Mohamed H Al-ThaniMinistry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar.
Abdullatif Al-KhalHamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Roberto BertolliniMinistry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar.
Laith J Abu-RaddadInfectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar lja2002@qatar-med.cornell.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0790-0506

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with protection against reinfection. This study analysed this protection across different reinfection symptoms and severities, comparing the preomicron and omicron eras.

methodsA nationwide, matched, test-negative, case-control study was conducted in Qatar from 5 February 2020 to 12 March 2024. The preomicron analysis used a sample of 509 949 positive and 8 494 782 negative tests, while the omicron analysis included 682 257 positive and 6 904 044 negative tests. Data were sourced from Qatar's national databases for COVID-19 laboratory testing, vaccination, hospitalisation and death.

resultsEffectiveness of preomicron infection against preomicron reinfection was estimated at 80.9% (95% CI: 79.1% to 82.6%) for asymptomatic reinfection, 87.5% (95% CI: 86.1% to 88.9%) for symptomatic reinfection, 97.8% (95% CI: 95.7% to 98.9%) for severe COVID-19 reinfection, 100.0% (95% CI: 97.5% to 100.0%) for critical COVID-19 reinfection and 88.1% (95% CI: 50.3% to 97.2%) for fatal COVID-19 reinfection. For omicron infection against omicron reinfection, the estimates were 46.4% (95% CI: 36.9% to 54.4%) for asymptomatic reinfection, 52.8% (95% CI: 44.4% to 60.0%) for symptomatic reinfection, 100.0% (95% CI: 55.4% to 100.0%) for severe COVID-19 reinfection, 100.0% (95% CI: 15.1% to 100.0%) for critical COVID-19 reinfection, and 75.2% (95% CI: -58.8% to 97.5%) for fatal COVID-19 reinfection. Effectiveness over time since previous infection showed no discernible decline in protection against all forms of reinfection in the preomicron era, but a rapid decline against asymptomatic and symptomatic reinfections in the omicron era.

conclusionsA gradient of protection against reinfection is evident, with the highest protection observed against severe forms of COVID-19. Over time, this gradient becomes more pronounced, as protection against asymptomatic and symptomatic reinfections decreases, while protection against severe outcomes remains strong.

Indexed as

COVID-19ReinfectionSARS-CoV-2AdultAgedCase-Control StudiesCOVID-19 VaccinesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQatarSeverity of Illness IndexYoung AdultCOVID-19 VaccinesCOVID-19Innate ImmunityRespiratory InfectionViral infection

Identifiers

PMID40139840
PMCPMC11950940

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.