If you were previously infected with a coronavirus that causes the "common cold,” it may decrease the severity if you develop a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection, according to results of a new study.
However, while the study at Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine demonstrates that your immunity is built up from previous non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infections, that immunity will not prevent you from getting COVID-19.
While SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the coronavirus, is a relatively new pathogen, there are many other types of coronaviruses that are endemic in humans and can cause the "common cold" and pneumonia. These coronaviruses share some genetic sequences with SARS-CoV-2, and the immune responses from these coronaviruses can cross-react against SARS-CoV-2.
The study showed that — after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index and diabetes mellitus diagnosis — COVID-19 hospitalized patients who had a previous positive test result for a coronavirus had significantly lower odds of being admitted to the ICU, and lower trending odds of requiring mechanical ventilation during COVID. The probability of survival was also significantly higher in COVID-19 hospitalized patients with a previous positive test result for a "common cold" coronavirus. However, a previous positive test result for a coronavirus did not prevent someone from getting infected with SARS-CoV-2.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to more than 200,000 deaths in the U.S. and more than 1 million globally. Scientists are looking into specific ways that the SARS-CoV-2 virus impacts different populations, including why some people are infected and are asymptomatic, as well as what increases mortality as a result of infection.
Source: World Pharma News October 6, 2020