title: [Sarcoidosis in a sanitary area at Leon (Spain). Epidemiology and clinical features].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of sarcoidosis is different among distincts geographic areas, probably due to climate variations. At present, there is in Spain few studies that correlate the observed cases with a concrete population. The aim of this study is to investigate the epidemiology of sarcoidosis in Leon"s sanitary area, in comparison with others spanish geographic areas. Moreover, we present a description of the clinic and radiologic characteristics of the studied cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the cases of sarcoidosis attended in the area from 1993 until 2001. The incidence, age, sex, place of residence and clinic-radiologic characteristics are described. The population data of the sanitary area to calculate the incidence were obtain from the Insalud"s data base. The climatology values were collected from the National Institute of Meteorology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of sarcoidosis in Leon"s sanitary area was 1,37/100.000 habitants/year, and was similar to that founded in Catalonia, Galizia and others provinces of the Castilla and Leon community. We observed a higher incidence of sarcoidosis in female patients, because of predominance of cases among women aged forty years or more. No differences between rural and urban populations were founded. The clinical characteristics were similar those described in other geographics areas of our country.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there are climate differences between the geographics areas of Spain, these aren"t enough to explain his influence in the incidence of sarcoidosis, which is similar in all of them, at least in the middle north of the country.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna II, Hospital de León. malcoba@hleo.sacyl.es
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alcoba Leza
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pérez-Simón
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guerra Laso
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carro Fernández
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alonso Fernández
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blanco Iglesias
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bueno Suárez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Muinelo Voces
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology