COVID-19: current situation and its relationship with the development of autoimmune diseases

Abstract

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease, exhibiting immunological characteristics similar to autoimmune diseases, such as a lack of control in immune cells. The main objective of the study was to determine the current situation of COVID-19 and its relationship with the development of autoimmune diseases. A documentary design with a descriptive scope was used, accompanied by a systematic bibliographic review methodology following the criteria proposed by the PRISMA method.  The results showed that in South American countries such as Ecuador the prevalence of the disease is high, ranging from 28.7% to 40.2% with a mortality of 3.48% to 7.2%, Peru also stood out with a mortality high of 19% and a prevalence of 30%, in Colombia the prevalence was 94.3% and mortality of 20.8%; Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Graves' disease, Guillain–Barré syndrome, thrombocytosis, Sjögren's syndrome, lupus developed in many patients suffering from COVID-19; The COVID-19 infection left important consequences, among which are: multi-organ involvement, arthralgia, damage to the vascular and respiratory system, respiratory and cardiac complications, and chronic pain. It was concluded that the epidemiological behavior of COVID-19 currently caused had a devastating impact on health systems, highlighting the need for global strategies; Autoimmune diseases developed after SARS-CoV-2 infection vary in their presentation and severity; COVID-19 in patients with diseases has left significant consequences, including multiorgan involvement, damage to the vascular system.