[Incidence of sarcoidosis in Guadeloupe. A 13-year retrospective study: 1997-2009].

INTRODUCTION: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatosis of unknown origin with a high incidence in the Afro-American population. There is no epidemiologic data regarding Afro-Caribbean population. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence and epidemiologic data of the disease, on the island of Guadeloupe, (French West Indies; 402 500 inhabitants, 90% Afro-Caribbean people) during the 13-years period between 1/01/1997 and 31/12/2009.

METHOD: We performed a retrospective study including exclusively patients with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis confirmed by histological examination of the involved tissues.

RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen patients were enrolled in the study. One hundred and eleven patients (98%) were black Caribbean of African European descent. Eighteen patients (16%) were more than 65 years old. The crude annual incidence over the study period was 2.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (IC 95%: [2,4-3,4]). The main localization of the disease was the chest (89%). Radiographic stages were distributed as following: I (31%), II (39%), III (15%), IV (2%).

CONCLUSION: Our study showed a low incidence rate of sarcoidosis on the island of Guadeloupe over the study period with a high rate of old patients.