Depression in sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis, a chronic, multisystem disease, impacts quality of life and ma y increase depression risk. No previous study has reported the depression p revalence among U.S. sarcoid patients. This cross-sectional study examined sociodemographic and disease morbidity factors associated with depression. Patients diagnosed for greater than or equal to 1 yr and treated at one of six centers were eligible (n = 176); 154 completed a questionnaire of demog raphics, treatment, access to medical care, and a short-form Center for Epi demiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). The primary outcome variable w as a CES-D score of greater than or equal to 9, indicating clinical depress ion. The prevalence of depression was 60%. Gender, income, access to medica l care, dyspnea on exertion, and number of systems involved were associated with depression. Female sex, decreased access to medical care, and increas ed dyspnea predicted depression (odds ratio [OR] = 3.33, 11.64, and 2.78, r espectively) after adjusting for race, income, and steroid therapy. Despite tertiary care access, patients reported medical care limitation. Health ca re providers must be sensitive to multiple barriers faced by chronic sarcoi d patients; acknowledging depression risk and improving access to medical c are will promote better overall health among sarcoid patients. Future studi es of sarcoidosis will need to address depression diagnosis and treatment.