Increased Risk of New Rheumatic Disease Follows COVID-19 Infection.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that individuals who have had a COVID-19 infection are at a greater risk of developing a new autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease (AIRD) compared to those who have had influenza or are in the general population. The severity of the COVID-19 infection was linked to a higher risk of incident rheumatic disease, but vaccination appeared to be protective against developing a new AIRD. The study used larger cohorts from two different countries and employed more robust methodology than previous studies. However, the study has limitations and further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between COVID-19 and AIRD. [Extracted from the article]