New ACR Convergence 2026 Research Highlights Cardiovascular Mortality Disparities and Promising Baricitinib Results in Sjögren Disease

Two presentations advance understanding of the mortality burden of Sjögren disease and evaluate a potential treatment option for patients with active disease.

ORLANDO – New research to be presented at ACR Convergence 2026, the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, examines two critical dimensions of Sjögren disease: the long-term burden of cardiovascular mortality in the United States and the efficacy and safety of baricitinib for patients with active disease.

The studies, “Cardiovascular Mortality Among Decedents With Sjögren Syndrome in the United States, 1999–2024: Temporal Trends and Demographic Disparities” (Abstract 2455427) and “Efficacy and Safety of Baricitinib in Active Sjögren Disease: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial” (Abstract 2453789), underscore the need for both improved cardiovascular risk recognition and more effective disease-directed therapies.

“Together, these studies reinforce that Sjögren disease is not limited to dryness symptoms—it is a systemic condition with potentially serious long-term consequences,” said Anam Naseem, MD, Mercy Catholic Medical Center, principal investigator of Abstract 2455427. “Understanding which populations bear a disproportionate cardiovascular mortality burden, while simultaneously advancing rigorously tested treatment options for active disease, is essential to improving outcomes for people living with Sjögren disease.”

Cardiovascular Mortality Trends and Disparities

The population-level mortality analysis evaluates cardiovascular deaths among U.S. decedents with Sjögren syndrome from 1999 through 2024. By examining temporal patterns and demographic differences, the study aims to clarify how cardiovascular mortality has evolved over more than two decades and to identify inequities that may warrant targeted prevention, screening, and clinical intervention.

Cardiovascular disease is an important concern in systemic autoimmune conditions, where chronic inflammation, comorbid conditions, treatment exposures, and barriers to timely care may contribute to risk. The study’s focus on demographic disparities highlights the importance of ensuring that cardiovascular risk assessment and preventive care are equitable across communities affected by Sjögren disease.

Randomized Trial Evaluates Baricitinib

The second abstract reports findings from a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in patients with active Sjögren disease. Baricitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor that targets signaling pathways involved in inflammatory and immune-mediated disease activity.

The trial investigates whether baricitinib can improve clinical outcomes in active Sjögren disease while characterizing its safety profile in this patient population. Results from randomized controlled studies are particularly important in Sjögren disease, where patients may experience substantial systemic symptoms and where effective, evidence-based therapeutic options remain an important area of clinical research.

“Patients with active Sjögren disease need treatment strategies supported by high-quality clinical evidence,” said Xiaofeng Zeng, Chief Physician and Professor in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. “The baricitinib trial contributes important randomized data on a targeted therapeutic approach, while the mortality study reminds us why comprehensive management—including attention to cardiovascular health—must remain central to care.”

Implications for Patients and Clinicians

Taken together, the research highlights several priorities for the Sjögren disease community:

• Recognize and address cardiovascular risk, including potential demographic inequities in long-term outcomes.
• Continue developing and rigorously evaluating targeted treatments for active disease.
• Support comprehensive care models that address systemic disease activity, comorbidities, prevention, and access to appropriate specialty care.
• Encourage shared decision-making between patients and clinicians when considering therapies and cardiovascular risk-reduction strategies.

These abstracts will be presented at ACR Convergence 2026. Findings reported in meeting abstracts are preliminary and should be interpreted in the context of the full presentations and, when available, peer-reviewed publication.

Media Contact
Teri Arnold
Director, Public Relations & Communications
757-272-7002
tarnold@rheumatology.org

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About the American College of Rheumatology
Founded in 1934, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is a not-for-profit, professional association committed to advancing the specialty of rheumatology that serves nearly 10,500 physicians, health professionals, researchers and scientists worldwide. In doing so, the ACR offers education, research, advocacy and practice management support to help its members continue their innovative work and provide quality patient care. Rheumatology professionals are experts in the diagnosis, management and treatment of more than 100 different types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases.

About ACR Convergence
ACR Convergence, the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, is where rheumatology meets to collaborate, celebrate, congregate, and learn. With hundreds of sessions and thousands of abstracts, it offers a superior combination of basic science, clinical science, business education and interactive discussions to improve patient care and advance the specialty. For more information about the meeting, visit the ACR Convergence page, or join the conversation on X by following the official hashtag (#ACR26).