Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025

Single-cell Analysis of Immunophenotype and Cytokine Production in Peripheral Whole Blood via Mass Cytometry
Published on: June 26, 2018
Characteristics of long COVID in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Der-Yuan Chen1,2,3, Po-I Huang4, Kuo-Tung Tang5,6,7
1Rheumatology and Immunology Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Objectives:
Numerous cases of long coronavirus disease (long COVID) have been reported in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs). Despite the reviews on clinical manifestations of long COVID in the general population, systematic reviews on ARD patients are scarce. Herein, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence and characteristics of long COVID in ARD patients.
Methods:
We searched the literature in PubMed and Embase as of 27 December 2022. Cohort, cross-sectional and case-control studies relevant to long COVID in ARD patients were collected. Stratification based on the severity of COVID infection and subtypes of rheumatic diseases [systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD) vs non-autoimmune rheumatic disease (NARD)] was also undertaken. A random-effects model was used in the meta-analysis.
Results:
A total of 15 relevant studies were identified from the literature. The prevalence of long COVID was 56% (95% CI 34, 76) in 2995 patients. Hospitalized COVID patients had a higher proportion of long COVID than non-hospitalized patients. The prevalence of long COVID was similar between SARD and NARD patients. In terms of symptoms, fatigue, arthralgia and pain were commonly reported in long COVID patients with ARDs.
Conclusion:
The characteristics of long COVID in ARD patients are generally similar to those in the general population despite a higher prevalence and a higher proportion of arthralgia and pain.
Related Concept Videos
Autoimmune Disorders
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune...
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...

