Sarcoidosis

Home » Sarcoidosis » Incidence and Prevalence

Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Sarcoidosis
(Free Handout)

Incidence and Prevalence

The frequency of sarcoidosis (the percentage of a population infected at a given time) is largely unknown because many cases are asymptomatic and never reported. Often, sarcoidosis is discovered by a chest x-ray done for other purposes. Or, it is not seen until after death, during an autopsy.

According the the NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the occurrence of sarcoidosis was considered rare in the United States until fairly recently. It was detected in large numbers during a mass chest x-ray screening of U.S. military personnel in the 1940s. In 1990, Congress declared a Sarcoidosis Awareness Day to increase awareness of the disease. Although usually considered fairly mild, it can be a very serious, life-threatening condition, especially in certain racial and ethnic groups. For example, in the United States, young African-American men suffer the most severe form of sarcoidosis and have the highest mortality rate.

Unlike most lung diseases, sarcoidosis actually occurs more frequently in nonsmokers than smokers. It is not clear why.

Geographical
The frequency of sarcoidosis varies from place to place. In some areas it is high, and in others it is low. In Sweden, for example, where sarcoidosis is considered very common, more than 60 people out of every 100,000 are affected; in New York, 39 out of every 100,000 are affected, and in Spain, only 1.2 per 100,000 are infected. Sarcoidosis is rarely reported in the Middle East, China, SE Asia, or among the Inuit or Native North Americans.

Racial variation
Within a geographical area, the frequency and course of the disease vary considerably among racial groups. In one study of sarcoidosis in London, for example, the incidence of sarcoidosis in W. Indian and Asian immigrants is 10 times higher than in the indigenous Caucasian population. Also, in the immigrant population, there is a greater need for corticosteroid treatment and a lower chance for full recovery.

In another study, researchers found that sarcoidosis in S. Africa occurs in 23 out of every 100,000 black persons, 12 of every 100,000 mixed race persons, and 4 of every 100,000 Caucasians.

In the United States, various studies have shown that sarcoidosis occurs in 10–80 of every 100,000 African Americans, compared to less than 8 of every 100,000 Caucasians.

Sex
African American women develop sarcoidosis twice as often as African American men. Caucasian women and men are equally likely to develop it.

Age
The highest prevalence is in 25-34 year olds.

© 1998-2009 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Sarcoidosis Resources

	Questions to Ask Your Pulmonary Care Team The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to make decisions about your lung condition. Print this free handout to take with you on your next office visit.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Join Our Sarcoidosis Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer