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Sarcoidosis in Australia
Author(s) -
Gillman A.,
Steinfort C.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2007.01365.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sarcoidosis , incidence (geometry) , etiology , population , epidemiology , medical record , dermatology , pediatrics , environmental health , physics , optics
Background: The incidence of sarcoidosis in Australia is unknown. The clinical features, diagnostic strategy and treatment of sarcoidosis in Australia have been poorly documented. Methods: We analysed the medical records of 122 patients with sarcoidosis presenting to a respiratory service, between 1995 and 2005, which serves a regional southeastern Australian population of approximately 200 000. Results: The incidence of sarcoidosis from 2000 to 2005 remained static and ranged from 4.4 to 6.3 patients per 100 000 population. The data showed that 55% were women and 28% were current smokers. Systems involved included lung parenchyma (66%), thoracic adenopathy (58%), skin (22%), ocular (18%), joint (11%), gastrointestinal tract (5%), central nervous system (3%) and hypercalcaemia (3%). Fifty‐one per cent of patients had an increased serum angiotensin‐converting enzyme level. The diagnosis was secured based on histological confirmation in 69%. Forty‐three per cent of the patients were treated with oral corticosteroids and 10% with inhaled steroids. Conclusion: Sarcoidosis in Australia is a multi‐system disease of unknown aetiology. This is the first reported incidence of sarcoidosis in Australia. The incidence is similar to another US‐based epidemiological study of a predominately white population. The development of a larger multicentre database would assist in the identification, clinical description and treatment of sarcoidosis.