Researchers have reviewed data on the incidence of autoimmune diseases in the post-acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) period.

At six months of follow-up, autoimmune disease incidence was significantly greater in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, including systemic lupus erythematosus.

The findings showed that COVID-19 patients were 43% more likely to acquire autoimmune conditions, within three to 15 months of infection, compared to over one million age and sex matched uninfected individuals.

Among autoimmune diseases, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) values were the highest for vasculitis. Further, among those with prior history of autoimmune diseases, COVID-19 resulted in a 23% higher risk of another autoimmune disease.

Based on the review findings, COVID-19 elevates autoimmune disease risks. Due to the retrospective study designs, the two cohort studies could not provide a causal association between COVID-19 and autoimmune disease development.

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