TY - JOUR
T1 - The incidence, prevalence, and severity of sarcoidosis in New York City firefighters
AU - Prezant, David J.
AU - Dhala, Atheya
AU - Goldstein, Andrew
AU - Janus, Denise
AU - Ortiz, Felipe
AU - Aldrich, Thomas K.
AU - Kelly, Kelly J.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Objective: The etiology of sarcoidosis is unknown, but epidemiology suggests that environmental agents are a factor. Because firefighters are exposed to numerous toxins, we questioned whether sarcoidosis was increased in this cohort. Setting: The New York City Fire Department (FDNY), employing > 11,000 firefighters and nearly 3,000 emergency medical services (EMS) health-care workers (HCWs). Design: In 1985, FDNY initiated a surveillance program to determine the incidence, prevalence, and severity of biopsy-proven sarcoidosis in firefighters. In 1995, EMS HCWs were added as control subjects. Results: Between 1985 and 1998, 4 prior cases and 21 new cases of sarcoidosis were found in FDNY firefighters. Annual incidence proportions ranged from 0 to 43.6/100,000, and averaged 12.9/100,000. On July 1, 1998, the point prevalence was 222/100,000. For EMS HCWs, annual incidence proportions were zero. Radiographic stage 0 or stage 1 sarcoidosis was found in 19 firefighters (76%), and stage 3 was found in 1 firefighter (4%). Pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide) was normal in 17 firefighters (68%), and reduced to ≤ 65% predicted in 2 firefighters (8%). Maximum oxygen consumption (MV̇O2) was normal in 10 of 17 firefighters (59%), and reduced to 65% predicted in 3 firefighters (12%). Five of seven firefighters (71%) with abnormal MV̇O2 had gas exchange abnormalities, and none had O2 desaturation. All returned to fire fighting. Conclusions: Annual incidence proportions and point prevalence were increased in FDNY firefighters as compared to EMS HCWs and historical controls. Radiographs and physiologic measurements demonstrated only minimal impairment.
AB - Objective: The etiology of sarcoidosis is unknown, but epidemiology suggests that environmental agents are a factor. Because firefighters are exposed to numerous toxins, we questioned whether sarcoidosis was increased in this cohort. Setting: The New York City Fire Department (FDNY), employing > 11,000 firefighters and nearly 3,000 emergency medical services (EMS) health-care workers (HCWs). Design: In 1985, FDNY initiated a surveillance program to determine the incidence, prevalence, and severity of biopsy-proven sarcoidosis in firefighters. In 1995, EMS HCWs were added as control subjects. Results: Between 1985 and 1998, 4 prior cases and 21 new cases of sarcoidosis were found in FDNY firefighters. Annual incidence proportions ranged from 0 to 43.6/100,000, and averaged 12.9/100,000. On July 1, 1998, the point prevalence was 222/100,000. For EMS HCWs, annual incidence proportions were zero. Radiographic stage 0 or stage 1 sarcoidosis was found in 19 firefighters (76%), and stage 3 was found in 1 firefighter (4%). Pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide) was normal in 17 firefighters (68%), and reduced to ≤ 65% predicted in 2 firefighters (8%). Maximum oxygen consumption (MV̇O2) was normal in 10 of 17 firefighters (59%), and reduced to 65% predicted in 3 firefighters (12%). Five of seven firefighters (71%) with abnormal MV̇O2 had gas exchange abnormalities, and none had O2 desaturation. All returned to fire fighting. Conclusions: Annual incidence proportions and point prevalence were increased in FDNY firefighters as compared to EMS HCWs and historical controls. Radiographs and physiologic measurements demonstrated only minimal impairment.
KW - Exercise testing
KW - Firefighters
KW - Pulmonary function
KW - Sarcoidosis
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U2 - 10.1378/chest.116.5.1183
DO - 10.1378/chest.116.5.1183
M3 - Article
C2 - 10559074
AN - SCOPUS:0032725068
VL - 116
SP - 1183
EP - 1193
JO - Chest
JF - Chest
SN - 0012-3692
IS - 5
ER -