Sjögren’s disease activity associates with cardiovascular disease and monoclonal gammopathy: a university cohort study of disease activity and comorbidities

We used the University of Wisconsin cohort to determine the extent to which the EULAR Sjögren’s syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI) was associated with comorbidities that contribute to mortality.

Our University of Wisconsin, Madison cohort had 111 patients with Sjögren’s Disease (SjD) by 2016 ACR/EULAR criteria and 194 control patients with sicca. Our study was performed from March 1st, 2020 through April 1st, 2023. We collected data using a standardized collection tool, including components of the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Stratifying our SjD patients by ESSDAI < 5 and ESSDAI ≥ 5, we assessed differences in comorbidities associated with mortality.

At time of SjD diagnosis, the ESSDAI ≥ 5 group had increased odds of peripheral vascular disease compared to controls (OR 10.17; 95% CI 1.18–87.87). Patients with a current ESSDAI ≥ 5 were more likely to have a myocardial infarction compared to controls (OR 9.87; 95% CI 1.17–83.49). SjD patients had increased prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy compared to controls (9.3% vs 0.5%, p < 0.001). SjD patients with high ESSDAI at diagnosis had greater prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy compared to the SjD patients with a low ESSDAI (16% vs 5%, p = .04). As reported elsewhere, the ESSDAI ≥ 5 group had increased odds of chronic pulmonary disease (OR 4.37; 95% CI 1.59–11.97).

We found high ESSDAI scores were associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes, specifically peripheral vascular disease and myocardial infarction. Furthermore, monoclonal gammopathy was more frequent in SjD patients compared to sicca controls, supporting screening for monoclonal gammopathy in the appropriate clinical scenario.