Several chronic inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, have been linked to an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, the data on Sjögren's syndrome (SS) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate this association.
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies that reported odds ratio, relative risk, hazard ratio or standardised incidence ratio comparing risk of VTE in patients with SS versus non-SS subjects. Pooled risk ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird.
Out of 306 potentially relevant articles, four eligible studies were identified and included in the data analysis. The pooled risk ratio of VTE in patients with SS was 2.05 (95% CI, 1.86-2.27). The statistical heterogeneity of this study was insignificant with an I2 of 0%.
Our study demonstrated a statistically significant increased VTE risk among patients with SS.