Risk of autoimmune skin and connective tissue disorders after mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination

Abstract

Background: Data on the association between the development of autoimmune diseases and COVID-19 vaccination are limited.

Objective: To investigate the incidence and risk of autoimmune connective tissue disorders following mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: This nationwide population-based study was conducted in South Korea. Individuals who received vaccination between September 8, 2020-December 31, 2021, were identified. Historical prepandemic controls were matched for age and sex in 1:1 ratio. The incidence rate and risk of disease outcomes were compared.

Results: A total of 3,838,120 vaccinated individuals and 3,834,804 controls without evidence of COVID-19 were included. The risk of alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, primary cicatricial alopecia, psoriasis, vitiligo, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, sarcoidosis, Behcet disease, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Sjogren syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, dermato/polymyositis, and bullous pemphigoid was not significantly higher in vaccinated individuals than in controls. The risk was comparable according to age, sex, type of mRNA-based vaccine, and cross-vaccination status.

Limitations: Possible selection bias and residual confounders.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that most autoimmune connective tissue disorders are not associated with a significant increase in risk. However, caution is necessary when interpreting results for rare outcomes due to limited statistical power.

Keywords: COVID-19; autoimmune disease; connective tissue disease; epidemiology; mRNA; risk; skin disease; vaccination.