Cardiac sarcoidosis is more frequent in males - Large cohort (n=1375) sarcoid patients analysis - 5 years experience in the National TB & Lung Diseases Research Institute in Warsaw, Poland

Sarcoidosis is predominantly demonstrated in the respiratory tract, however granulomas can involve all other organs, including heart, what may be potentially life-threatening. The aim of study was to evaluate the incidence of cardiac sarcoidosis in the group of patients diagnosed or followed up due to sarcoidosis in two departments of the National TB & Lung Diseases Research Institute in Warsaw. Method: retrospective analysis of database patients discharged with the diagnosis 'sarcoidosis' (ICD-10: D86) and next selection patients with cardiac involvement. The analysis covered the period from January 2008 to October 2012. Diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis was verified according to guidelines from the Japan Ministry of Health and Welfare (1993, 1999, 2006) and positive magnetic resonance imaging test. Results: 1375 sarcoidosis patients were seen in two departments in the almost 5 years period. Females/males ratio was 49%/51%. Multiorgan disease was detected in 160 cases (11.7%). The cardiac involvement was presented in 64 patients (4.7% of the entire group). 12 cases in stage I, 48 in stage II and 4 in stage III. The mean age was 46.7±12.6 years (range: 25 – 77). There were 45 males and 19 females - 70.3%/29.7%. Odds ratio for males comparing to females: 2.3433; 95% CI: 1.3559 to 4.0496, p = 0.0023. The median of time from the diagnosis of sarcoidosis to detection of heart involvement was 18.8 months (CI 90% range 0 to 8.9 years). Conclusion: Cardiac sarcoidosis was diagnosed in the similar percentage as in previously published data, but was significantly more frequently in males.