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Study links autoimmune rheumatic diseases to higher long COVID risk

Verified · 5/5 supported1 cited · 1 min read

Medical Xpress reports that a retrospective cohort study by Namrata Singh, M.D., and colleagues, published online Oct 14 in Arthritis & Rheumatology, examined long COVID in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD) using data from the National Clinical Cohort Collaborative . Medical Xpress reports that the study found AIRD patients have an increased risk for long COVID compared with non‑AIRD controls . Medical Xpress reports that higher acute COVID‑19 severity, pulmonary disease, obesity, and exposure to rituximab or glucocorticoids were linked to greater long COVID risk among AIRD patients . Medical Xpress reports that Sjögren syndrome was associated with a higher risk of long COVID in the AIRD cohort .

Why it matters. Medical Xpress notes that the findings highlight the need for targeted monitoring of AIRD patients for long COVID .

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