Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Early gastrointestinal manifestations predict disease progression and mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors' conclusion
Early GI symptoms and overall symptom burden predict GI progression and mortality in SSc.
Study context
- Population
- Participants from the GENISOS cohort with early systemic sclerosis (SSc) (≤5 years from first non-Raynaud's symptom)84% female
- Participants
- 450 participants
- Exposure
- Baseline gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms vs their absence
- Outcome
- Progression to significant GI disease (Medsger GI severity score ≥2)
Methodological detailsCox regression
- Cox regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Progression to significant GI disease
Baseline GERD, HR
4.15
P = 0.019
Baseline diarrhoea, HR
2.25
P = 0.021
Each additional baseline GI symptom: increase in hazard of significant GI progression
53%
P = 0.003
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
All-cause mortality
- Peptic ulcer disease, HR
- 2.21 (P = 0.007)
- Diarrhoea, HR
- 1.48 (P = 0.045)
- Each additional symptom: increase in mortality risk
- 29% (P < 0.001)
Significant GI involvement (overall; at baseline)
- Significant GI involvement
- 13%
- Significant GI disease at baseline
- 4%
Baseline GI symptom frequency
- GERD
- 76%
- Dysphagia
- 41%
Original publication
Early gastrointestinal manifestations predict disease progression and mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 15 May 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →