What comorbidities accompany sarcoidosis? A large cohort (n=1779) patients analysis.

BACKGROUND Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous multiorgan disease with the most common manifestation is in the chest, although the granulomas can also involve all other organs causing variety of symptoms mimicking different diseases. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the incidence of comorbidity in a large group of patients with sarcoidosis diagnosed or followed in referral center for lung diseases in Poland. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis in a group of 1779 patients discharged with the final diagnosis "sarcoidosis" (ICD-10: D86) from January 2008 to October 2011. RESULTS The majority (79.2%) were diagnosed as pulmonary and/or lymph node sarcoidosis (D86.0, D86.1, D86.2). Sarcoidosis of other and combined sites (D86.8) were diagnosed in 15.8% and unspecified (D86.9) in 5.0% of patients. At least one comorbid condition was noted in 54% of the patients, most frequently arterial hypertension (22.4%), thyroid disorders (5.6%), diabetes mellitus (5.0%), COPD (4.3%) and obesity (3.3%). Using linear regression models, the associations between the number of comorbidities and age and extent of the disease were found (p<0.001). Patients with multiorgan sarcoidosis were more likely to have a comorbid condition. CONCLUSIONS More than half of patients with sarcoidosis have a comorbid condition, which is more likely in older patients and those with multiorgan involvement.