Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Inflammation in the Co-occurrence of Primary Sjogren's Syndrome and Lung Adenocarcinoma
Published on: September 20, 2024
Risk of interstitial lung disease following COVID-19 infection in patients with autoimmune diseases: a retrospective
Ying-Li Lin1,2,3, Meng-Che Wu3,4,5, Yu-Hsun Wang6
1Department of Family Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
Objective:
This study aimed to determine the risk of developing interstitial lung disease (ILD) as a major post-COVID outcome in individuals with autoimmune diseases.
Methods:
This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the TriNetX U.S. Collaborative Network. The case group comprised individuals with autoimmune rheumatic diseases who contracted COVID-19, whereas the control group included those who remained uninfected during the follow-up period. Patient baseline characteristics were balanced using propensity score matching (PSM). The primary outcome was newly diagnosed ILD. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to calculate PSM-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to evaluate survival differences.
Results:
The study included 174 256 individuals (26 768 COVID-19 cases and 147 488 controls) from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2022. After propensity score matching, two cohorts of 26 763 individuals were identified, both with balanced baseline characteristics. During the follow-up period, the COVID-19 group exhibited a significantly higher risk of ILD (HR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.10-1.36). Subgroup analyses by age, sex, and autoimmune disease consistently revealed higher risks in the COVID-19 group than in the control group.
Conclusion:
COVID-19 infection was identified as a risk factor for the development of ILD in patients with autoimmune diseases, highlighting the importance of vigilant pulmonary surveillance in this population. Nevertheless, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to potential residual confounding, diagnostic misclassification, and the heterogeneity of autoimmune diseases, which may mask disease-specific risk variations and lead to potential misattribution of ILD risk across different autoimmune conditions.
Related Concept Videos
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
Autoimmune Disorders
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune...
Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Pneumonia I: Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation

