Abstract
Sjögren syndrome (SS) is one of the lesser-known autoimmune diseases, with its mechanisms and pathogenesis not yet fully understood. However, recent studies indicate that infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, may serve as risk factors for the development of SS. Accordingly, this study aimed to estimate the global co-occurrence rate of chronic HCV infection and SS. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a comprehensive search for relevant studies was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases up to June 2024. Data from eligible studies were meticulously extracted and statistically analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software. The pooled prevalence of co-occurrence of HCV and SS was calculated using incidence rates with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), and the association of chronic HCV infection with the development of SS was assessed via odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % CIs. Analysis of the articles retrieved from the databases showed 24 studies were considered eligible. The pooled estimate for the co-occurrence of HCV and SS was approximately 16.6 % (95 % CI: 8.8-28.9). Moreover, the results indicated that chronic HCV infection significantly increased the risk of developing SS (OR: 2.76; 95 % CI: 1.35-5.63). This study's findings revealed that HCV infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of and susceptibility to SS. Therefore, chronic HCV infection may trigger the onset of SS. However, further studies are required to confirm these results.