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. 2009 Sep;48(9):1077-82.
doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kep141. Epub 2009 Jun 24.

Health-related quality of life, employment and disability in patients with Sjogren's syndrome

Jiska M Meijer  1 , Petra M Meiners, James J R Huddleston Slater, Fred K L Spijkervet, Cees G M Kallenberg, Arjan Vissink, Hendrika Bootsma
Affiliations

Health-related quality of life, employment and disability in patients with Sjogren's syndrome

Jiska M Meijer et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2009 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: To compare health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), employment and disability of primary and secondary SS (pSS and sSS, respectively) patients with the general Dutch population.

Methods: HR-QOL, employment and disability were assessed in SS patients regularly attending the University Medical Center Groningen (n = 235). HR-QOL, employment and disability were evaluated with the Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36) and an employment and disability questionnaire. Results were compared with Dutch population data (matched for sex and age). Demographical and clinical data associated with HR-QOL, employment and disability were assessed.

Results: Response rate was 83%. SS patients scored lower on HR-QOL than the general Dutch population. sSS patients scored lower on physical functioning, bodily pain and general health than pSS patients. Predictors for reduced HR-QOL were fatigue, tendomyalgia, articular involvement, use of artificial saliva, use of anti-depressants, comorbidity, male sex and eligibility for disability compensation (DC). Employment was lower and DC rates were higher in SS patients compared with the Dutch population.

Conclusion: SS has a large impact on HR-QOL, employment and disability.

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