Predictors of Mortality in Sarcoidosis

Abstract

Rates of deaths with sarcoidosis as the underlying cause were reported to increase with age, with females exceeding males and blacks exceeding whites. Also, the comorbidity burden has a strong impact on mortality in sarcoidosis. Moreover, the extent of pulmonary fibrosis on CT and the presence of major pulmonary vasculopathy and cardiac involvement are important independent determinants of mortality. It seems unlikely that one feature will identify all patients who will die of pulmonary sarcoidosis. At this point, epidemiologic data, the different signs and symptoms on physical examination, biomarkers of disease severity such as lung function tests, and certain imaging features suggestive of advanced disease are integrated in a multidisciplinary setting. Continued investigation into further characterizing the subgroup of patients with poor outcomes may provide important and helpful knowledge in the early detection of patients with high sarcoidosisrelated morbidity and mortality.