Sjögren Europe pushes recognition of invisible symptoms on World Sjögren’s Day

Sjögren Europe is using its July 2026 “Nobody Listens” campaign to spotlight how people with Sjögren disease say their symptoms are often dismissed or misunderstood across Europe. The group is urging earlier diagnosis, better support and broader recognition of the disease’s impact ahead of World Sjögren’s Day on July 23.

Why it matters: - Sjögren disease can affect far more than dry eyes and dry mouth, with symptoms that can disrupt work, family life, mental wellbeing and finances. - The campaign is aimed at earlier diagnosis and support, which Sjögren Europe says can help prevent irreversible damage. - The message lands ahead of World Sjögren’s Day on July 23, when awareness efforts typically draw wider attention.

What happened: - Sjögren Europe launched its Europe-wide “Nobody Listens” campaign (#NobodyListens) in July 2026 and is running it through July 31. - The campaign centers on patient testimonies from people living with Sjögren disease across Europe. - The group says the campaign responds to a recurring patient experience: symptoms are often not taken seriously and people are not believed. - The campaign is being shared under the hashtags #NobodyListens and #WorldSjogrensDay.

The details: - Sjögren disease is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s moisture-producing glands and may also affect other organs and systems. - Beyond dryness, people can experience debilitating fatigue, joint and muscle pain, nerve pain, dysautonomia, cognitive difficulties often described as brain fog, and dryness in different parts of the body. - In some cases, the lungs, kidneys, nervous system or lymphatic system may be involved, along with an increased risk of lymphoma. - The disease affects women disproportionately, who make up about nine in 10 diagnosed cases. - Diagnosis can take several years. - The 2026 international patient study Spotlight on Sjögren’s: A Patient Perspective on Burden of Disease found most participants had signs and symptoms for more than five years before diagnosis, with even longer delays in some countries. - Sjögren Europe says patient stories often use everyday phrases like “my belly hurts” or “I’m just tired,” which can hide the seriousness of the condition. - The Board of Sjögren Europe said people living with the disease have repeatedly reported being dismissed by people around them and by healthcare professionals. - The board also said listening is the starting point for recognition, appropriate care and meaningful support. - Sjögren Europe says no single treatment is approved for Sjögren disease and current therapeutic approaches are palliative. - The group was founded in February 2019 and is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.

Between the lines: - The campaign is framed as a challenge to a visibility problem, not just an awareness problem. - By focusing on disbelief and ordinary language, Sjögren Europe is arguing that symptom recognition may be as important as medical treatment in improving outcomes. - The call to employers, families and the wider public shows the organization views Sjögren disease as a social and workplace issue as well as a medical one.

What's next: - Sjögren Europe and its national member associations will continue sharing patient testimonies, campaign messages and awareness materials through July 31. - The group is urging healthcare professionals to listen more carefully to patient-reported symptoms and recognize the systemic nature of the disease. - Sjögren Europe is also pressing policymakers and health systems to acknowledge the disease’s broader impact and to support efforts toward effective treatment approval.