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


CONCLUSIONS
SS has a large impact on HR-QOL, employment and disability.
Meijer
Jiska M
JM
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Meiners
Petra M
PM
Huddleston Slater
James J R
JJ
Spijkervet
Fred K L
FK
Kallenberg
Cees G M
CG
Vissink
Arjan
A
Bootsma
Hendrika
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012923:Social Class