Sarcoidosis in black women in the United States: data from the Black Women's Health Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown cause that occurs among men and women of all races. In the United States, black women are most frequently and most severely affected. There have been few epidemiologic studies of sarcoidosis focusing on black women.

Methods

In this article, we present data on incidence, prevalence, and clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis among participants in the Black Women's Health Study, a cohort study of 59,000 black women from across the United States. Data on incident disease and potential risk factors are obtained through biennial questionnaires. Follow-up has been > 80% through six completed cycles.

Results

There were 685 prevalent cases of sarcoidosis at baseline in 1995 and 435 incident cases reported

SUBMITTER: Cozier YC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3014690 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature