Many patients are told that “Sjogren’s can’t kill you.” While most patients do not die from Sjogren’s, clinicians who perpetuate this myth are downplaying the serious nature of the disease. An estimated 10% of Sjogren’s patients die directly from their disease (24), most commonly from lymphoma and Sjogren’s lung (pulmonary) disease.
"Having a solid appreciation of the breadth and depth of extraglandular manifestations of SS is essential to making a timely diagnosis and preventing serious morbidity and mortality." (151, p. 109).
Potentially fatal direct Sjogren’s manifestations include
Pulmonary (lung) disease
Sjogren’s lung disease is associated with a four-fold increase in mortality (79, 158). It is far more common (54, 102, 158) than previously recognized. Symptoms are not always apparent, especially early on, during the period when treatments are most likely to be effective (54, 79). Learn more about Sjogren’s lung disease here.
Click here to learn more about Sjogren's and lung disease.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension(sometimes listed with lung disease) (39, 159)
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Lymphoma
Sjogren’s patients have a 5-10% lifetime risk (79) of developing lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin B cell lymphoma is a direct manifestation of Sjogren’s disease. It is often a non-aggressive type and patients usually do well (151, p.144).
“Lymphoma is not restricted to SS patients with anti-SSA/Ro antibodies although these antibodies do confer increased risk” (151, p.133)
Multiple myeloma (151, p.131)
Kidney disease leading to renal failure (61, 154)
Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis (47, 61)
Life-threatening Sjogren’s manifestations are not necessarily fatal.
Stable organ system disease and even low-grade lymphomas may not require aggressive treatment. However, they do require careful monitoring and management by a specialist. Much can be done to reduce the progression of severe systemic manifestations through early diagnosis and treatment (54, 155,151 p.131).
Individual Risk Profile
Multiple factors contribute to the risk profile for individual Sjogren’s patients.
SS-A status alone is not adequate to define high-risk populations, other than for complications specific to SS-A positive pregnancies.
Other measurements such as low complement, cryoglobulins, and the ESSDAI are stronger predictors for severe systemic involvement (119, 195,254)
Risk profile is a complicated and evolving topic that will not be addressed in detail
on Sjogren’s Advocate. Patients should discuss their individual risk profile
and monitoring with their rheumatologist and other Sjogren’s clinicians.
General comorbidities may cause premature death
Comorbidities are diseases and conditions associated with Sjogren’s but not considered to be direct manifestations. General comorbidities do not include immune-mediated comorbidities such as rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, or spondylitis. While these are important, they are excluded from this discussion because there are no clear data about their impact on Sjogren’s mortality
Potentially fatal comorbidities include
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as strokes, heart attacks, and thromboembolism (103, 105) are a major cause of premature death in Sjogren’s patients (61, 153). People with Sjogren’s have an increased CVD risk even in the absence of other risk factors. Most primary care providers are well versed in CVD prevention and treatment. However, they may not be aware of the increased risk in Sjogren’s patients.
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Severe infections, especially respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and sepsis contribute to premature death in Sjogren’s (39, 61, 124.) It is important for Sjogren’s patients to stay up to date on immunizations and protect themselves from unnecessary exposures to communicable diseases.
Approximately 60% of deaths in Sjogren's patients are caused by CVD and infections (254).
Non-hematologic cancers, including cancers of the thyroid, oral cavity, and stomach, occur at higher rates in Sjogren’s patients (113).
The risk of cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer appears to be higher in Sjogren’s patients. This needs to be confirmed by further research.
A note about depression
Depression impacts about 30% of people with Sjogren’s (27). Severe depression may result in suicide. It is unclear how much of depression can be attributed to biologic factors vs. overwhelming loss. In addition to a high symptom burden, especially from fatigue, loss of social connections and employment are common (98). Sjogren’s is a serious disease that tends to be neglected, psychologized, and downplayed. The difficulty finding medical and social support for this life-altering disease is often devastating to patients (161).
The Takeaway
While Sjogren’s patients overall experience higher than expected mortality, most can expect to live a normal lifespan. Ongoing monitoring and early intervention for systemic features improve outcomes. Where possible, preventive measures should be implemented, such as reducing cardiovascular risk factors, staying up to date on immunizations, and for women, cervical cancer screening.
Key Links and Self-Advocacy Tools
See Myth #4 on the MYTHS ABOUT SJOGREN'S page for more information and self-advocacy tools.
Updated 01-15-2024
