Top Ten Diseases with Increased Incidence or Severity Since COVID-19 Perplexity AI Aug 2025
The research confirms that POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) has indeed experienced a dramatic increase since the COVID-19 pandemic, with studies showing a 14-fold increase in incidence. However, POTS is just one of many conditions that have seen significant increases. Based on comprehensive analysis of medical literature and epidemiological studies, here are the ten diseases with the most notable increases in incidence or severity since COVID-19: nature+2
Summary table
| Rank | Disease/Condition | Increase Factor | Population Most Affected | Time Frame | Key Findings |
| 1 | POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) | 14x increased incidence | Young adults, women | Post-infection, ongoing | 2-14% of COVID survivors develop POTS nature+2 |
| 2 | Myocarditis | 3x higher rate vs influenza | Males under 30, young adults | Within 1 year post-infection | Higher risk than post-vaccine myocarditis jamanetwork+2 |
| 3 | Type 1 Diabetes | 16-28% higher incidence | Children and adolescents | During pandemic years 2020-2023 | Exceeded normal 2-3% annual increase cedars-sinai+1 |
| 4 | Type 2 Diabetes | 66% higher risk of new-onset | Adults, especially unvaccinated | Post-infection period | Affects pancreatic beta cells, insulin cidrap.umn+2 |
| 5 | Heart Attack/Stroke Risk | 2x risk (up to 3 years) | First wave infections, non-O blood types | Up to 3 years post-infection | Genetic component involving blood type kff+2 |
| 6 | Depression and Anxiety | 6x higher rates (50% anxiety, 44% depression) | Young adults 18-29, women, minorities | Throughout pandemic, persisting | Highest impact on young, disadvantaged groups heart+2 |
| 7 | Autoimmune Diseases (Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc.) | 22-44% increase (varies by type) | Women, multiple types affected | 2021-2023, sustained increase | Multiple types: RA, SpA, PsA, SjS increased nihrecord.nih+2 |
| 8 | Chronic Kidney Disease | 2.5% in COVID patients vs 1.5% without | Advanced CKD patients, Asian race | During and post-infection | COVID infection accelerates decline heart+2 |
| 9 | Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia) | 15.3% higher incidence overall | Female teenagers, anorexia nervosa | Throughout pandemic 2020+ | Doubled in teens, suicide risk increased aha+2 |
| 10 | Sleep Disorders/Insomnia | 52% of COVID patients affected | All ages, worse with anxiety/depression | During and post-infection | Long-term insomnia in mild cases too clevelandclinic+2 |
Key Patterns and Mechanisms
Direct Viral Effects: Many conditions result from SARS-CoV-2's direct impact on organs through ACE2 receptors, particularly affecting the cardiovascular system, pancreas, kidneys, and brain. who+2
Autoimmune Triggering: COVID-19 appears to trigger autoimmune responses, leading to increased rates of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and POTS. heart+2
Demographic Vulnerabilities: Young adults, women, and racial minorities have been disproportionately affected across multiple conditions. heart+2
Long-term Persistence: Many of these increases have persisted well beyond the acute phase of the pandemic, with some conditions showing elevated risk for up to three years post-infection. kff+2
Pandemic-Related Factors: Beyond direct viral effects, lockdown measures, social isolation, healthcare disruptions, and psychological stress have contributed to increases in mental health conditions, eating disorders, and other health problems. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+3
The data reveals that COVID-19's impact extends far beyond respiratory illness, creating a cascade of health consequences that continue to affect populations worldwide. The 14-fold increase in POTS represents one of the most dramatic examples of how the pandemic has fundamentally altered disease patterns, particularly affecting young people who were previously considered low-risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes.
References
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