Clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis patients in Belgium. Issue 2 (4th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Ridder, Jolien; Ronsmans, Steven; Vanderschueren, Steven; Wuyts, Wim; Yserbyt, Jonas
• Is Part Of: Acta clinica belgica. Volume 77:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 247
• Page End: 254
• Publication Date: 2022-03-04
• Subjects: Sarcoidosis -- epidemiology -- interstitial lung disease -- collagen vascular disorders -- granulomatous disease; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Diagnosis, Laboratory -- Periodicals; 616.005
• DOI: 10.1080/17843286.2020.1821493
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1784-3286

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Sarcoidosis is a non-caseating granulomatous disease, mostly affecting previously healthy persons in their fourth and fifth decade. In Belgium, there is a paucity of epidemiological data concerning sarcoidosis and it is unknown to what respect national data on sarcoidosis relates to the global epidemiology of the disease. Objectives: In this cohort study we describe the patient population in an academic center of reference, serving both as a regional care center and a center for a tertiary referral. Methods: We collected epidemiological data among 234 consecutive patients consulting the outpatient sarcoidosis clinic during a two-year time period. We manually explored the electronic patient file for data retrieval. Results: Out of the 234 patients, 140 are male (60%) and 94 are female (40%) patients. Forced vital capacity showed a median decline of 2% during follow-up, whereas median diffusion capacity increased with 4% over the same period of time. Within our study cohort, we observed a preponderance in employment as construction workers (14%), the chemical industry (6%) and in the metal processing industry (6%). Conclusion: The current study reports on epidemiological findings among the largest cohort of sarcoidosis patients in Belgium published to date. Graphical abstract uf0001