1039. Clinical and Economic Impact of COVID-19 and Serologic Protection among Farm Workers: Results from the Guatemala Agricultural Workers and Respiratory Illness Impact (AGRI) Study
Authors: Olson Daniel , Calvimontes Diva M , Lamb Molly , Lesteberg Kelsey , Barrios Edgar , Rojop Neudy , Chard Anna , Iwamoto Chelsea , Duca Lindsey , Carlos Monzon Jose , Arias Kareen , Gomez Melissa , Paiz Claudia , Azziz-Baumgartner Eduardo , Gutierrez Emily Zielinski , Mansour Hani , Kathryn Edwards , Newman Lee S , Beckham David , Santiago Mario , Asturias Edwin J 
Published: December 2022

Background

In the Guatemala AGricultural workers and Respiratory Impact (AGRI) study, we evaluated the clinical and socioeconomic burdens of respiratory disease in a cohort of Guatemalan banana farm workers.

Methods

All eligible workers were offered enrollment from June 15–December 30, 2020, and annually, then followed for influenza-like illnesses (ILI) through: 1) self-reporting to study nurses, 2) sentinel surveillance at health posts, and 3) absenteeism. Workers with ILI submitted nasopharyngeal swabs for influenza, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 testing, then completed surveys at days 0, 7, and 28. Enrollment and acute-illness serum samples were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG (anti-N, Roche Elecsys®), and neutralizing antibodies (NAb) were tested in a subset using a lentivirus-based pseudovirion assay.

Results

Through October 10, 2021, 1,833 workers were enrolled. The majority were male (84%), young (mean 31 years), and healthy (&lt; 13% had comorbidity). Through October 10, 2021, 1,833 workers developed 169 ILIs (12.0/100 person-years) and 43 (25.4%) of these ILIs were laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 (3.1/100 person-years). Workers with SARS-CoV-2-positive ILI reported more anosmia (p&lt; 0.01), dysgeusia (p&lt; 0.01), difficulty concentrating (p=0.01), and irritability (p=0.01), and greater clinical and well-being severity scores (Flu-iiQ) than test-negative ILIs (Fig 1); they also had greater absenteeism (p&lt; 0.01) and lost income (median US$127.1, p&lt; 0.01). Among 1334 workers enrolled in 2020, 616 (46.2%) had anti-N IgG suggestive of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. COVID-19 incidence density for IgG-seropositive workers was 0.4/100 Person ̶ Years (P ̶ Y), lower than those who were seronegative (2.3/100 P ̶ Y) (Fig 2). At enrollment, anti-N IgG titers in serum correlated with neutralizing antibody titers (R2=0.26, p&lt; 0.0001). Notably, in &lt; 6 months from enrollment, most workers with follow-up NAb testing (65/77, 84%) exhibited a 95% decrease in neutralizing antibody titers.

Conclusion

Guatemalan farm workers suffered a significant burden of COVID-19, including more severe clinical and economic outcomes than other respiratory illnesses. Ongoing vaccination programs and longitudinal serology will provide additional insight into long-term immunity.

Disclosures

Daniel Olson, MD, Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|Roche: Grant/Research Support Diva M Calvimontes, MD, Pfizer: Grant/Research Support Molly Lamb, PhD, Pfizer: Grant/Research Support Edwards Kathryn, MD, Bionet: Advisor/Consultant|IBM: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Data Monitoring Committee|Moderna: Data Monitoring Committee|Pfizer: Data Monitoring Committee|Roche: Data Monitoring Committee|Sanofi: Data Monitoring Committee|Seqirus: Data Monitoring Committee|X-4 Pharma: Data Monitoring Committee Edwin J. Asturias, MD, Curevac: DSMB Member|Fundacion para la Salud Integral de los Guatemaltecos: Board Member|Inovio: DSMB Member|Merck: Honoraria|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support.