SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG Antibody Positivity Among Patients with Respiratory Symptoms in Wasit, Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract: Serological assays detect antibodies following SARS-CoV-2 exposure; however, antibody positivity alone cannot confirm active infection. This study described SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibody positivity among patients presenting with respiratory symptoms in Wasit, Iraq, and examined their associations with selected demographic characteristics. This cross-sectional study included 300 patients with respiratory symptoms who attended Al-Karama Hospital, Wasit Governorate, Iraq, between September and November 2020. SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies were assessed using the Panbio™ COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Device (Abbott, USA) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. IgM and IgG results were analyzed separately as qualitative outcomes. Associations with sex, age group, and residence were assessed using Pearson’s chi-square tests, and crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Overall, IgM was positive in 77 of 300 participants (25.7%; 95% CI, 21.1–30.9%), and IgG was positive in 78 of 300 participants (26.0%; 95% CI, 21.4–31.2%). Of the participants, 173 (57.7%) were male and 127 (42.3%) were female; the mean age was 32.49 ± 19.19 years. IgM positivity was significantly associated with sex (P = 0.025) and age group (P = 0.003), but not with residence (P = 0.133). IgG positivity was significantly associated with sex (P = 0.017), but not with residence (P = 0.544) or age group (P = 0.388). IgM and IgG antibody positivity was observed in approximately one quarter of symptomatic patients. IgM positivity was associated with sex and age group, whereas IgG positivity was associated with sex only. These cross-sectional findings describe antibody status and do not establish active infection, causality, or diagnostic accuracy.