The Truth About Sjogren's - published 04.05.2025

Many doctors are still taught that Sjogren’s is a rare, mild, dryness syndrome primarily affecting middle-aged women. In reality, Sjogren’s is a serious, systemic disease that can impact any part of the body and, occasionally, can be fatal.  The incorrect portrayal of Sjogren's leads to missed diagnoses, delayed diagnoses, and inadequate care.

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The truth about Sjogren’s disease:  

 

• Sjogren's is common, not rare.  Sjogren’s disease affects approximately 1 in 100 people in the US (most cases are undiagnosed), similar to the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and three times that of lupus. 
   

• There is no dryness-only version of Sjogren’s. If fact, not everyone with Sjogren’s has dryness.
   

• Quality of life and function is worse on average than it is for better known related diseases, RA and lupus. This is mainly due to fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and pain, not dryness.
   

• Although 9 out of 10 Sjogren's patients are women, Sjogren's can affect anyone, at any age, including men and children.
   

• Sjogren's often starts in childhood or early adulthood, but diagnosis is frequently delayed for years, when the disease has caused significant damage and symptoms become difficult to manage. 

 

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