Comorbid conditions and their influence on neurological manifestations in connective tissue diseases: A cross-sectional study

Patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs) experience a heightened risk of comorbidities. This study seeks to examine the connection between diseases tied to neurological symptoms in individuals with CTDs, such as Sjogren’s syndrome (SS), Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This cross-sectional study involved ۲۵۱ adult patients diagnosed with RA, SLE, or SS according to established criteria (۲۰۱۶ ACR/EULAR for SS, ۲۰۱۹ ACR/EULAR for SLE, ۲۰۱۰ ACR/EULAR for RA). Data on demographics, comorbidities, and neurological symptoms were gathered using standardized checklists and medical history reviews. Statistical analysis utilized Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, with significance defined at a p-value less than ۰.۰۵. The analysis was conducted using SPSS. Among the ۲۵۱ patients, ۱۷۴ were diagnosed with RA and had a mean age of ۵۲.۶۴ years, ۵۳ had SLE with a mean age of ۴۴.۲۷ years, and ۲۴ had SS with a mean age of ۳۹.۹۶ years. Hypertension and hyperlipidemia were the most frequent comorbidities in RA patients. In contrast, hypothyroidism was the most common in SLE and SS patients. Neurological symptoms, such as limb paresthesia, depressive symptoms, and sleeping difficulties, were common across all groups. Headache displayed a significant difference among the three conditions (p-value=۰.۰۲۵).  Comorbid disorders, including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease, and hypothyroidism, are independently and strongly associated with neurological symptoms in patients with CTDs. This finding emphasizes the importance of focused clinical attention.

کلیدواژه ها:

connective tissue diseases ، Neurological Manifestations ، Sjogren’s syndrome ، systemic lupus erythematosus ، Rheumatoid arthritis ، comorbid conditions