title: [Incidence of sarcoidosis in Guadeloupe. A 13-year retrospective study: 1997-2009].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie, CHU de Pointe-à-Pitre, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre cedex, Guadeloupe. gilbert.cadelis@chu-guadeloupe.fr
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cadelis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cordel
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Coquart
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Etienne
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019430:Guadeloupe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult