Abstract
Objective. Primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disease. A clear temporal causal relationship between pSS and psychiatric disorders has not been well established. We used a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study to explore the relationship between pSS and the subsequent development of psychiatric disorders.
Methods. We identified subjects who were newly diagnosed with pSS between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2008, in the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) Research Database. A comparison cohort was constructed for patients without pSS. There were 2686 patients with pSS and 10,744 matched controls observed until diagnosed with psychiatric disorders or until death, withdrawal from the NHI system, or December 31, 2009. The Institutional Review Board of Taipei Veterans General Hospital approved this study (2012-12-013BC).
Results. The adjusted HR of depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and sleep disorder in subjects with pSS were significantly higher at 1.829, 1.856, and 1.967 than those of the controls during the followup. We found that pSS might increase the risk of subsequent newly diagnosed depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and sleep disorder that may impair life quality.
Conclusion. Our findings highlight the need for psychiatric evaluation and intervention for patients with pSS.
Footnotes
Supported by grant NSC 101-2314-B-075-040 from the National Science Council, Taiwan, and grant V103C-048 from the Taipei Veterans General Hospital. The study was based on data from the National Health Insurance (NHI) Research Database (provided by the Bureau of NHI of the Department of Health, Taiwan, and managed by the National Health Research Institute, Taiwan). The interpretation and conclusions contained in this article do not represent those of the Bureau of NHI, the Department of Health, or the National Health Research Institute.
- Accepted for publication March 16, 2015.