The Burden of Post-Acute Sequelae of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Individuals with Rheumatic Diseases

Shruthi Srivatsan; Naomi J Patel

doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2024.08.003

The Burden of Post-Acute Sequelae of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Individuals with Rheumatic Diseases

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2025 Feb;51(1):15-28. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2024.08.003. Epub 2024 Oct 11.

Authors

Shruthi Srivatsan¹, Naomi J Patel²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Rheumatology & Allergy Clinical Epidemiology Research Center, Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
² Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Rheumatology & Allergy Clinical Epidemiology Research Center, Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School. Electronic address: njpatel@mgh.harvard.edu.

PMID: 39550103
DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2024.08.003

Abstract

The long-term impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), are especially pertinent for individuals with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, who are at higher risk of developing COVID-19 infection, complications of acute infection, and possibly PASC. Severity of acute COVID-19 infection, female sex, comorbidities, and immunosuppressive medications impact the risk of PASC in this population. The etiology of PASC remains poorly defined, and the diagnosis is clinical, with symptoms that can overlap with those of rheumatic diseases. A better understanding of the physiologic mechanisms could help to more clearly define PASC and to guide the development of targeted treatments.

Keywords: COVID-19; Immunosuppression; Infection; Post-acute sequelae; Rheumatic disease.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / complications
Comorbidity
Humans
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome* / drug therapy
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome* / pathology
Rheumatic Diseases* / complications
Rheumatic Diseases* / drug therapy
Risk Factors
SARS-CoV-2