Abstract
IntroductionSjögren’s syndrome (SjS) causes malfunction of the salivary and lacrimal glands. Consequently, patients suffer from xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. This can further affect the voice and swallowing function resulting in an impaired quality of life. Aim of this study is the systematic evaluation of the impact on voice and swallowing-related quality of life in patients with SjS.Material and methodsSjS patients were classified according to the American–European Consensus Group (AECG) criteria; antibodies to Ro (SS-A) or La (SS-B) antigens were detected, ESSPRI was completed. We used the following quality of life questionnaires: EORTC QLQ H&N 35, Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (ADI) and Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Patients additionally received a detailed phoniatric examination (auditory perception, videostroboscopy, acoustic analysis, Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI), aerodynamics measurements).ResultsAlmost all the 54 patients (96.3%) had a limited quality of life due to their swallowing problems and 48% due to their voice problems. Both values correlated significantly with the degree of xerostomia. In the phoniatric examination, 77.8% had an increased DSI and two-thirds had abnormalities in videostroboscopy.ConclusionsA reasonable impairment of quality of life in patients with SjS due to the limitations in voice and swallowing function was observed. As SjS does not limitate life expectancy, preservation of quality of life is important. Detection of voice and swallowing problems as potential reasons for quality of life impairment should be detected and, if diagnosed, treated accordingly.
Highlights
Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS) causes malfunction of the salivary and lacrimal glands
The EULAR Sjogren’s Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI) was completed by the patients and it contains three items to be given an activity level score between 0 and 10: pain, fatigue and dryness, the final ESSPRI score is the mean of all three scores and between 0 and 10 [20]
Patients who were referred with xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the Technical University Munich during February 2018 to December 2018 and were classified as primary SjS were included in this study
Summary
Patients suffer from xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca This can further affect the voice and swallowing function resulting in an impaired quality of life. Results Almost all the 54 patients (96.3%) had a limited quality of life due to their swallowing problems and 48% due to their voice problems. Both values correlated significantly with the degree of xerostomia. Conclusions A reasonable impairment of quality of life in patients with SjS due to the limitations in voice and swallowing function was observed. SjS induces disorders of the functions of mouth, throat and larynx This causes disorders in swallowing and in voice [9]
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