OBJECTIVES : Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is an immune system disorder identified by its two most common symptoms: dry eyes and mouth. Its prevalence has been increasing globally with a major proportion being borne by the female population. However, evidence on the economic burden is limited. This study aims to describe the economic burden of SS globally.

METHODS : A targeted literature search of English-language publications from the last 10 years (January 2010 through December 2019) was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases and from Google handsearching, aiming to identify relevant literature that assessed direct and indirect economic consequences, healthcare resource utilization and productivity loss. Basic descriptive statistics were calculated and costs are presented as reported in the original study (non-standardized).

RESULTS : In total, 13 studies were included in this review; five (38%) studies were conducted in the United States (US). The average annual direct cost was estimated to be US $3,479 per patients diagnosed with SS in the US. In 2010, the direct cost burden was due to high rates of hospitalizations (49%), outpatient visits (25%) and medication use (26%). Between 1996 and 2016, patients with SS displayed higher hospitalization rates as compared to the non-SS group (rate ratio: 1.25, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.11-1.41) with an average length of stay of approximately 11.3 days. Mean number of outpatient visits ranged from 15.1 to 36.6. Indirect cost burden ranged from US $12,150- $21,369 per patient per year. In 2015, productivity loss from paid work stemmed mainly from presenteeism constituting approximately 64% of the total cost.

CONCLUSIONS : This review exhibits an important economic burden of SS in society with hospitalizations, outpatient visits and medication use as key cost drivers.