Risk of autoimmune disorders may be higher following COVID-19 infections

COVID-19 infections may increase the risk of autoimmune and auto-inflammatory connective tissue disorders.

In a study published in JAMA Dermatology, investigators examined the outcomes of 6.9 million participants with and without COVID-19 infections.

The investigators found that the participants who had COVID-19 infections were more likely to develop a number of autoimmune or auto-inflammatory connective tissue disorders, including alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, vitiligo and rheumatoid arthritis compared with those who didn’t experience infections. Further, the participants who experienced severe COVID-19 infections, those who required intensive care and those who were unvaccinated had a higher risk of developing autoimmune disorders.

The findings demonstrated that vaccinated participants had a reduced risk of developing autoimmune disorders. The investigators concluded that long-term monitoring may be beneficial among patients with severe infections who didn’t receive COVID-19 vaccination.

Read more: JAMA Dermatology

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