Keratoconjunctivitis sicca and primary Sjögren's syndrome in a Danish population aged 30-60 years

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the presence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca and primary Sjögren's syndrome a sample of 504 persons aged 30-60 years from Copenhagen was studied.

Methods: The presence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca and primary Sjögren's syndrome was estimated according to both the Copenhagen set of criteria and the preliminary European criteria.

Results: Symptoms of dry eye and oral dryness were very common and with no significant correlation to age or sex. Keratoconjuncitivis sicca was most frequent in persons aged 50-59 years and was equally common in men and women. Primary Sjögren's syndrome could only be diagnosed in one person according to the Copenhagen criteria (cut-off the Schirmer-1 test < or = 5 mm/5 min), and in three persons according to the preliminary European criteria.

Conclusion: The frequency of keratoconjunctivitis sicca in persons aged 30-60 years in Copenhagen may be estimated to be 11% according to the Copenhagen criteria and 8% according to the preliminary European criteria. The frequency of primary Sjögren's syndrome in persons aged 30-60 years in Copenhagen may be estimated to be between 0.2% and 0.8% according to the Copenhagen criteria and between 0.6% and 2.1% according to the preliminary European criteria.