Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41337152›Full record

Observational studyPloS one2025

Autoimmune diseases as pre-existing conditions and sequelae of post COVID-19 condition in a Massachusetts community based observational study of COVID-19 patients.

Susan R Sama, Rebecca Gore, Ann Z Bauer, Lawrence Garber, Richard Rosiello, Meagan Fair, David Kriebel

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Susan R SamaDepartment of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0182-598X
Rebecca GoreDepartment of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Ann Z BauerDepartment of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Lawrence GarberReliant Medical Group, Inc., Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Richard RosielloReliant Medical Group, Inc., Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Meagan FairReliant Medical Group, Inc., Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America.
David KriebelDepartment of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, United States of America.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Between 10%-26% of COVID patients develop Post COVID condition (PCC). The complex interaction between autoimmunity and SARS-CoV-2 is emerging as an important challenge and an opportunity to improve diagnosis and treatment of immune mediated chronic illnesses. In a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records from a Massachusetts group medical practice, we identified 38,327 patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis and 1,143 with a PCC diagnosis from 1/1/2020 to 6/25/2023. We investigated the hypotheses that auto-immune diseases-1) increase risk of developing PCC; 2) were more likely to develop after COVID-19; and 3) medical utilization would be higher in patients with a PCC diagnosis. We compared COVID-19 patients with and without a PCC diagnosis. We evaluated demographics, PCC symptoms, pre-infection comorbidities, autoimmune diseases pre- and post- SARS-CoV-2 infection, and medical utilization. Females were more likely to have a PCC diagnosis (63%, p = 0.012). High BMI (> 30), pre-infection chronic respiratory disease, and "any post-infection autoimmune disease" were also associated with PCC diagnosis, OR= 1.25, (95% CI: 1.11, 1.41); OR=1.64, (95% CI: 1.45, 1.86), OR=1.57, (95% CI: 1.10, 2.24), respectively. Pre-infection, psoriasis OR=1.41 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.91) and rheumatoid arthritis OR=1.64, (95% CI: 1.00, 2.69) were more likely to be observed in patients with a PCC diagnosis. Post-infection, Sjögren's syndrome, OR=4.05 (95% CI: 1.94, 8.49) was more likely among PCC diagnosed patients and rheumatoid arthritis OR=3.18 (95% CI: 0.99, 10.46) may also be more prevalent. We observed approximately one more day of medical utilization per month among patients with a PCC diagnosis (p < 0.001). We confirm PCC diagnosis is more prevalent among women, patients with high BMI and chronic respiratory disease. Our findings support emerging evidence that pre-existing autoimmune diseases may increase risk of PCC, SARS-CoV-2 may increase the risk of new onset autoimmune disease, and medical utilization is higher among patients with PCC.

Indexed as

Autoimmune DiseasesCOVID-19AdultAgedComorbidityFemaleHumansMaleMassachusettsMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID41337152
PMCPMC12674521

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.