COVID-19 Infection Linked to 49% Higher Risk of Autoimmune Disease
A new meta-analysis study combed through data from over 97 million individuals from population-based cohort studies and found that COVID-19 infection was linked to a 49% increased risk of developing new autoimmune diseases.
This study compared individuals with and without COVID-19 and examined many parameters, including disease severity and vaccination status.
The highest risks were associated with developing autoimmune diseases that affect vascular and connective tissue, including:
- Antiphospholipid syndrome: A disease where the immune system produces antibodies against fat molecules and makes blood more likely to clot
- ANCA-associated vasculitis: This disease involves inflammation in blood vessels and affects multiple systems
- Mixed connective tissue disease: This disease occurs when the immune system attacks ribonucleoproteins, which are important to produce messenger RNA necessary for protein production
- Immune thrombocytopenic purpura: This disease lowers blood platelet counts, leading to bruising and bleeding.
For more prevalent autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Sjogren’s syndrome, the authors reported a “modest but statistically significant rise” in the increased risk after COVID-19 infection. Systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis didn’t show an increased risk in their study.
Citation
Tzang, C. C., Sheng, H., Kuo, V. F., Luo, C. A., Lin, T. A., Lee, Y. T., Huang, E. S., Wu, P. H., Tzang, B. S., & Hsu, T. C. (2025). Association between COVID-19 and New-Onset Autoimmune Diseases: Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 97 Million Individuals. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology, 68(1), 111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-025-09124-4