When a stratified analysis was conducted according to detection method, a significant increase in DM risk was associated with the detection of anti-MDA5 antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (OR = 14.10, 95% CI: 3.36–59.16, P < 0.001) and immunoprecipitation (OR = 8.68, 95% CI: 2.44–30.86, P = 0.001). Here, IFIH1 is linked to dermatomyositis.