Full Papers
Clinical and serological differences of an Italian Sjögren’s disease cohort according to three geographic macro-area localisations
F. Atzeni1, M.L. Currò2, R. Dal Pozzolo3, G. Cafaro4, V. Manfrè5, L. Quartuccio6, F. Carubbi7, A. Alunno8, N. Del Papa9, P. Cipriani10, O. Berardicurti11, R. Priori12, A. Gattamelata13, S. Guiducci14, E. Bartoloni15
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Italy. atzenifabiola@hotmail.com
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Italy.
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Italy.
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Italy.
- Division of Rheumatology, Academic Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), Udine, Italy.
- Division of Rheumatology, Academic Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), Udine, Italy.
- Internal Medicine and Nephrology Division, Department of Clinical Medicine, Life Health and Environmental Sciences, ASL1 Avezzano-Sulmona-L'Aquila, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
- Internal Medicine and Nephrology Division, Department of Clinical Medicine, Life Health and Environmental Sciences, ASL1 Avezzano-Sulmona-L'Aquila, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
- Department of Rheumatology and Medical Sciences, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO Institute, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Rome Campus Biomedico, Rome, Italy.
- Department of Clinical Internal, Anaesthesiologic and Cardiovascular Sciences, Rheumatology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome; and Saint Camillus International University of Health Science, UniCamillus, Rome, Italy.
- Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular Sciences, Rheumatology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Italy.
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Italy.
on behalf of the Italian Research Group on Sjögren’s syndrome
CER18997
Full Papers
Free to view
(click on article PDF icon to read the article)
Received: 10/06/2025
Accepted : 28/07/2025
In Press: 04/12/2025
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
The phenotype of Sjögren’s disease (SjD) may be influenced by several variables. Among these, the role of patient geolocation has been poorly explored. The study compared epidemiologic, serologic, clinical features and comorbidities according to geographical origin in a large Italian multicentre SjD cohort.
METHODS:
This is a retrospective analysis of a multicentre SjD cohort (2016 ACR/EULAR criteria) consecutively included in the Italian SjD Study Group registry and grouped into three macrogeographic areas: North, Centre and South. Disease-specific epidemiologic, serologic, histologic and clinical variables were collected. Comorbidities, traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and history of CV events were also recorded. All data were stratified by geographic area to assess regional differences.
RESULTS:
1231 SjD patients, median 53 (42-63) years at diagnosis and 95% females, were included. No differences were observed in sex distribution or ethnicity among the three areas. Patients from the South had older age at diagnosis compared to the North (55 versus 51 years, p=0.001) and Centre (55 versus 51 years, p=0.002) and higher frequency of activity in the constitutional and articular but lower in biological domains (p<0.001 for all). Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were more prevalent in the Centre and obesity was more common in the South compared to the North (p<0.001). No significant differences were observed in other CV risk factors and CV events.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides the first evidence of geo-epidemiological differences among Italian SjD patients, highlighting how geographic origin is associated with disease phenotype and comorbidities. These regional disparities likely reflect environmental, socio-cultural and healthcare system-related factors, underscoring the need for personalised disease management strategies.
