The safety and immunogenicity to inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in patients with hyperlipemia

Abstract

It is of urgent need to understand the safety and effectiveness of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)-inactivated vaccine in patients with hyperlipidemia (HLD). However, data on the safety and immune response of SARS-CoV-2-inactivated vaccine in HLD patients are limited. In this prospective study, 105 patients with HLD and 74 healthy controls (HCs) were selected. Within 16-168 days after inoculation-inactivated vaccine, the anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) IgG and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) were evaluated, respectively. Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate RBD-specific B cells and memory B cells. There was no significant difference between HLD patients and HCs in adverse events (AEs) within 7 days after vaccination, and no serious AEs occurred. The seropositivity rates and titers of two Abs (anti-RBD IgG and CoV-2 NAbs) were lower in HLD patients than in HCs (all, p < 0.05). HLD showed significantly lower frequencies of RBD-specific B cells than HCs (p = 0.040). However, in high cholesterol, high triglyceride, mixed (MiX), and lipid control (HC) subgroups, there was no significant difference in the seropositivity rates and titers of the both Abs. Through mixed factor analysis shows that days between the second dose and sample collection/antibody measurement were associated with the lower anti-RBD IgG antibody levels. In conclusion, inactivated COVID-19 vaccine is safe and well tolerated for HLD patients, but the humoral immune may be limited.