Cardiometabolic and Nutritional Parameters in Patients with Primary Sjögren Syndrome

Primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the exocrine glands that may contribute to altered nutritional status. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between pSS and various nutritional and cardiometabolic parameters. This retrospective, cross-sectional study included 91 patients with pSS and 100 healthy controls. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were analyzed, including serum levels of albumin, glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipids, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], and other biomarkers. Principal component analysis was applied to reduce the number of variables and identify key factors associated with pSS. Body mass index (BMI) and serum concentrations of albumin, glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were significantly lower in patients with pSS than in controls (p=0.001, p<0.001, p=0.013, p=0.035, p=0.010, and p=0.001, respectively). Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly higher in the pSS group compared with controls (p<0.001). Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis showed that BMI and 25(OH)D levels were independently associated with pSS (p=0.013 and p<0.001, respectively). Of the five factors extracted by factor analysis, three were significantly associated with pSS. The factor including CRP, HbA1c, and BMI and the factor including albumin and LDL cholesterol were negatively associated with pSS, whereas the factor comprising 25(OH)D and vitamin B12 was positively associated with pSS. Lower BMI and higher serum 25(OH)D levels were independently associated with pSS. Combined factors related to inflammation, glycemic status, lipid metabolism, and nutritional markers showed distinct associations with pSS, highlighting the importance of nutritional status screening in these patients.