How many people have Sjögren's Syndrome

How many people have Sjögren's Syndrome

Sjögren's Syndrome takes on average seven years to receive a correct diagnosis, because of this the numbers on how many people have Sjögren's Syndrome are continually growing.  It is estimated that in the United States over 4 million people have Sjögren's Syndrome.  More women than men have Sjögren's Syndrome as 9 out of every 10 people diagnosed with the autoimmune disease are women.  The typical age for diagnosis of Sjögren's Syndrome is 40 however many people have Sjögren's Syndrome symptoms in their 30's.

Many people have Sjögren's Syndrome symptoms early in adulthood but their disease is not diagnosed until later in life.  This is because the symptoms that they are experiencing could also be symptoms of other autoimmune disorders and diseases.  In order to make a diagnosis for Sjögren's Syndrome a doctor first has to rule out other disorders, such as Lupus, which closely resembles Sjögren's Syndrome symptoms. 

The length of time, testing and cost of testing affects how many people have Sjögren's Syndrome diagnosis later in life rather than when their symptoms first present.  By educating themselves and working with a doctor who has experience with the disorder, people who think they have Sjögren's Syndrome can get a diagnosis quicker.