In advance of Sjögren’s Awareness Month in April, the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation (SSF) recently released results of a nationwide survey that looks at the physical and emotional effects of the disease.
About 3,000 patients — 96 percent women — over 18 years old in the U.S. and diagnosed with Sjögren's shared their experiences with the disease for the survey. Around half of the patients surveyed described dry eyes (54 percent), fatigue (54 percent) and dry mouth (50 percent) — the three most commonly reported symptoms of Sjögren's — as having a major impact on their lives in the last year. About 71 percent said the disease gets in the way of things they need to do every day. And 49 percent of those surveyed said having Sjögren's had a negative impact on them participating in hobbies and social activities.
The survey also found, on average, Sjögren's patients see almost five different healthcare professionals at least once a year to manage their disease, including ophthalmologists and optometrists. And on average they use almost nine medications and treatments to help with their symptoms.
Click here to read the full Living with Sjögren's report.
Click here to read the full press release.
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Source: Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation