Stressful life events are associated with the diagnosis of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases among adults
An erratum to this article was published (Clin Exp Rheumatol, Mar 2025 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
This case-control study of life events preceding SARDs diagnosis using a validated life events questionnaire provides support for an aetiologic role of negative life events and psychological stress in SARDs among adults.
Study context
- Population
- Adults; life events 12 months prior to SARD diagnosis/reference date, queried with the Interview for Recent Life Events
- Participants
- 227 adults
- Comparison
- Probands with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) vs unaffected siblings vs unrelated controls
- Probandsn = 96
- Siblingsn = 78
- Controlsn = 53reference
- Outcome
- Association of life events scores with SARD diagnosis
- Follow-up
- 12 months prior to SARD diagnosis/reference date
Methodological detailssiblings discordant for SARDs and unrelated controls, matched by age, sex, and race, logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and ever smoking
- Siblings discordant for SARDs and unrelated controls
- Matched by age, sex, and race
- Logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and ever smoking
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
OR range (number of total, major, uncontrollable, undesirable, and highly stressful life events)
1.31-1.64
p-value range 0.001–0.049
Probands
OR range (corresponding stress ratings)
1.22-1.51
p-value range <0.001–0.016
Probands
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Number and stress ratings of total, uncontrollable, and undesirable events, probands vs controlsGreater in probands | P < 0.001-0.024 |
Life events vs unaffected siblings
- Consistent trends of probands reporting greater numbers of total and highly stressful events, and higher stress ratings than siblings
Highly stressful events and weighted major events scores, probands and siblings vs controls
- Greater in probands and siblings compared to unrelated controls
- P < 0.001-0.046
Original publication
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