What does this research mean for the field?

Sarcoidosis in Utah has a lower incidence than the national average but comparable mortality, predominantly affecting older White adults and presenting with similar pulmonary patterns but less frequent cutaneous, ocular, and joint involvement. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to estimate the incidence, prevalence, organ involvement, and mortality of sarcoidosis in Utah and to compare these metrics with national benchmarks.

May 20, 2026

C58-05 Epidemiology of Sarcoidosis in Utah: Incidence, Organ Involvement, and Mortality Compared With National Benchmarks

Key Points

This research aims to estimate the incidence, prevalence, organ involvement, and mortality of sarcoidosis in Utah and to compare these metrics with national benchmarks.
Analyzed data from the Utah Population Database for ICD-10 sarcoidosis cases from 2020-2024.
Compared incidence and organ involvement with national estimates from prior studies.
Utilized CDC WONDER age-adjusted mortality data to assess local mortality rates.
Annual incidence in Utah was 4.6 cases per 100,000, lower than the national average of 7.6.
Pulmonary involvement was predominant at 74%, with age-adjusted mortality at 0.3 per 100,000, matching national rates.
Demographic analysis showed higher cardiac and neuropathy comorbidities in Utah compared to national averages.

Abstract

Abstract Rationale Sarcoidosis disease burden shows geographic and racial heterogeneity, but state-level data from Utah are sparse. We estimated incidence, prevalence, organ involvement, and mortality in Utah and compared them with national benchmarks. Methods We queried the Utah Population Database (UPDB) for all individuals with an ICD-10 diagnosis of sarcoidosis (D86.*) from 2020-2024. Population denominators were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau and Utah Department of Health and Human Services. National incidence and organ-specific involvement were compared using published estimates from Baughman and Ungprasert. Mortality rates were drawn from CDC WONDER age-adjusted sarcoidosis death data. Results A total of 4,701 Utah residents had a sarcoidosis diagnosis within a population of 3.5 million. Annual incidence (2020-2024) was 4.6 cases/100,000—lower than the national estimate of 7.6. The cohort was 85.9% White and 14.1% non-White, reflecting Utah’s demographic composition (80.7% White vs 61.6% nationally). Age at diagnosis peaked at 60-64 years, with 59.8% ≥55 years.Organ involvement was most often unspecified (58%), but among coded cases, pulmonary disease predominated (74%), followed by cutaneous (8%), cardiac (5%), joint (2%), and ocular (2%) involvement. Comorbidities included heart failure (19%), pulmonary hypertension (13%), and neuropathy (16%). Geographic distribution was uniform across health districts after population adjustment. Age-adjusted mortality was 0.3 per 100,000 (95% CI 0.2-0.3), matching the national mean but higher among White Utahns versus the national White population (0.3 vs 0.1 per 100,000). Conclusions Sarcoidosis in Utah shows lower incidence but similar pulmonary patterns compared with national data. Our age distribution adds to other analyses showing an older age at diagnosis than previously observed. Cutaneous (8% vs ∼33%), ocular (2% vs 10-25%), and joint (2% vs 5-15%) involvement appear less frequent, whereas cardiac involvement is similar (5% vs 1-23%) and neuropathy may be higher (16% vs 3-10%). The disease predominantly affects older White adults, with frequent pulmonary and cardiac comorbidities. Comparable mortality despite lower incidence suggests potential under-recognition of mild disease. These findings establish the first statewide epidemiologic baseline for sarcoidosis in Utah and highlight opportunities for improved detection and outcomes research in geographically and demographically distinct populations. This abstract is funded by: None

Ask AI

Helpful

Bookmark