A LARGE prospective cohort study has confirmed that individuals living with Sjögren disease (SjD) face a 70% higher risk of death compared to the general population, emphasizing the need for vigilant long-term monitoring and targeted interventions. The findings stem from a 9.5-year follow-up of 314 patients enrolled in the multicenter SjögrenSER Prospective cohort.
The study found that the leading causes of death among SjD patients were infections (35.7%), malignancies (23.8%), and cardiovascular disease (7.1%). When adjusted for demographic and clinical variables, several factors stood out as strong predictors of mortality: increasing age, low C4 complement levels, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), a history of heart failure, and lung involvement.
Specifically, C4 hypocomplementemia was associated with a nearly fourfold increase in mortality risk, while a history of heart failure carried more than four times the hazard of death. The researchers noted that these markers reflect systemic disease activity and underlying organ damage, which may accelerate decline.
With a standardised mortality ratio of 1.7, the study adds to mounting evidence that Sjögren disease is not only a quality-of-life condition but one with serious long-term health implications. The authors urge clinicians to recognize high-risk features early and adopt a more individualised management approach, particularly in patients with cardiovascular or pulmonary complications.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Lovgach O et al. Mortality in Patients With Sjögren Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study Identifying Key Predictors. J Rheumatol. 2025; 52(3):257-62.
