CLINICAL PRESENTATION OF SARCOIDOSIS IN THE NETHERLANDS - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY

Background: Patients suffering from sarcoidosis may present with a wid e range of symptoms. The aim of this study was to make an inventory of the clinical presentation of the sarcoidosis population in the Nether lands. Methods: Symptom inventory questionnaires were sent to all memb ers of the Dutch Sarcoidosis Society. Of these 1755 sarcoidosis patien ts, 1026 (58%), (age 46.7 +/- 11.6, female 63%) completed the question naire. Results: Familial sarcoidosis was reported by 170 patients (16. 3%). In 57% of the cases the first diagnosis was sarcoidosis. Other di agnoses included rheumatoid arthritis (5.1%) and tuberculosis (4.8%). Treatment with systemic corticosteroids was reported by 565 patients ( 55.1%). The most frequently reported symptom was fatigue (71%), follow ed by dyspnea (70%), arthralgia (52%), muscle pain (39%), chest pain ( 27%), and general weakness (22%). Moreover, 26% of patients suffered f rom disease-related tension and strain. No relationship was found betw een the reported symptoms and treatment with corticosteroids. Conclusi ons: Sarcoidosis patients suffered from a broad range of persistent ph ysical symptoms. In this study fatigue appeared to be the most commonl y reported symptom. Intervention programs should focus on physical hea lth as well as psychosocial aspects such as teaching patients how to c ope with the disease. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.