Association of Sjögrens Syndrome in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis Virus Infection: A Population-Based Analysis

PLoS One. 2016 Aug 25;11(8):e0161958. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161958. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Objective: The association between Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and chronic hepatitis virus infection is inconclusive. Hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are highly prevalent in Taiwan. We used a population-based case-control study to evaluate the associations between SS and HBV and HCV infections.

Materials and methods: We identified 9,629 SS patients without other concomitant autoimmune diseases and 38,516 sex- and age-matched controls without SS from the Taiwan National Health Insurance claims data between 2000 and 2011. We utilized multivariate logistic regression to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the associations between SS and HBV and HCV infections. Sex- and age-specific (<55 and ≥55 years) risks of SS were evaluated.

Results: The risk of SS was higher in patients with HCV than in those without chronic viral hepatitis (OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 2.16-2.86). Conversely, HBV infection was not associated with SS (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.98-1.24). Younger HCV patients were at a higher risk for SS (<55 years: OR = 3.37, 95% CI = 2.62-4.35; ≥55 years: OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.84-2.62). Men with HCV were at a greater risk for SS (women: OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.94-2.63; men: OR = 4.22, 95% CI = 2.90-6.16). Only men with chronic HBV exhibited a higher risk of SS (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.21-2.14).

Conclusion: HCV infection was associated with SS; however, HBV only associated with SS in men.

MeSH terms

  • Asian People / statistics & numerical data
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / ethnology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / ethnology
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • National Health Programs / statistics & numerical data*
  • Population Surveillance / methods
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / ethnology
  • Taiwan / epidemiology

Grants and funding

This study was supported in part by a grant from Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare Clinical Trial and Research Center of Excellence (MOHW104-TDU-B-212-113002) (FCS), China Medical University Hospital, Academia Sinica Taiwan Biobank Stroke Biosignature Project (BM104010092) (FCS), NRPB Stroke Clinical Trial Consortium (MOST 103-2325-B-039-006), and Taipei Medical University Hospital (TMUH104-AE1-B02 and 105TMU-TMUH19). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.