Race
Ethnicity [6] plays an important role in your risk of developing sarcoidosis. This factor is known to influence disease presentation and clinical outcomes. Statistically, Caucasians are less prone to the disease compared to African Americans and Northern Europeans. 5 out of 100,000 patients are Caucasians and 39 out of 100,000 are of African descent. The reported disease incidence is five in 100,000 for Caucasians and 39 in 100,000 for African Americans. Northern Europeans and Africans have a higher incidence of sarcoidosis which leads to health complications like organ damage. Lung damage is a serious complication of this condition affecting African-Americans.
Medical reports gathered for over a decade (1999 to 2010) showed that the risk of developing in African Americans was 12 times higher than for Caucasians. The latter also recorded higher mortality rates than the former.
Also, there are obvious differences in the clinical presentation of sarcoidosis between African Americans and Caucasians. This condition causes severe symptoms in Africans and is more likely to be asymptomatic in Caucasians. Extrapulmonary sarcoidosis is common in African Americans, affecting the skin, bone marrow, and eyes.