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Association Between Presence of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Vaccine Scar and Coronavirus Disease 2019
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  • Buket Caliskaner Ozturk,
  • Ilgim Vardaloglu,
  • Deniz Öngel,
  • Nejdiye Mazican,
  • Gizem Senkardesler,
  • Nigar Aliyeva,
  • Aytan Ismayilova,
  • Gunay Can,
  • Ilker Inanc Balkan,
  • Bilun Gemicioglu,
  • Sermin Borekci
Buket Caliskaner Ozturk
Istanbul Universitesi-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Ilgim Vardaloglu
Istanbul Universitesi-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi
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Deniz Öngel
Istanbul Universitesi-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi
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Nejdiye Mazican
Istanbul Universitesi-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi
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Gizem Senkardesler
Istanbul Universitesi-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi
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Nigar Aliyeva
Istanbul Universitesi-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi
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Aytan Ismayilova
Istanbul Universitesi-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi
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Gunay Can
Istanbul Universitesi-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi
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Ilker Inanc Balkan
Istanbul Universitesi-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi
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Bilun Gemicioglu
Istanbul Universitesi-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi
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Sermin Borekci
Istanbul Universitesi-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi
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Abstract

Objective: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is administered for protection against tuberculosis and may also have beneficial effects against some viral respiratory tract infections. The low incidence and mortality of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in countries that have BCG vaccination program is impressive, and some studies have shared contradictory results. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between BCG vaccination which is confirmed by BCG scar, and the frequency and course of COVID-19. Methods: Among 490 patients who applied to the outpatient clinic for Pulmonary and Enfectious Diseases between March 2021 and June 2021, 400 patients who accepted to participate in the study were included. After the consent of patients; age, gender, body mass index, comorbidities, smoking, history and the progress of COVID-19 of these patients were investigated; presence and number of BCG scar were recorded by physician. Data from groups with and without COVID-19 history were compared. Results: Of the 400 patients 228 (57%) were female. Mean age was 39.65 ± 13.53. 188 (47%) patients had a history of COVID-19. There was no relation between presence and number of the BCG scar and COVID-19 related hospitalization and intensive care unit admission. When groups with and without COVID-19 history compared, no statistically significant difference was found with the presence and number of BCG scars (p>0,05). Conclusion: No association was found between the presence or number of BCG scars and the frequency and course of COVID-19 in individuals with BCG vaccination history confirmed by the presence of BCG vaccine scars.