What are your thoughts on illnesses triggering RA or other AI?

Are there any studies on this? Is there anyone who thinks this has happened to them? I'd like to hear your stories.

My story is- spring of 2023 I got a bad case of pneumonia. First time ever. A couple months later I started feeling changes in my body. Feeling really tired, starting to get sore more easily. Fast forward to 2025 and an RA diagnosis. Most of my symptoms really went balls to the wall in summer of 2024. I initially chalked it up to getting older but now that I look back I just find it strange how I was so sick and then all these things starting happening with my body after I recovered from pneumonia
Coincidence? 🤔 It's not something I really feel comfortable asking my doctor cus I don't want him to think I'm coocoo. Lol I'd like to hear if anyone else has been through a similar experience.