Factors associated with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis among US veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan

Abstract

This study evaluated risk factors of sarcoidosis among Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR) participants using a retrospective age and sex-matched case–control design of AHOBPR participants deployed to Afghanistan or Southwest Asia with and without sarcoidosis diagnosed in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Logistic regression models tested for associations between sarcoidosis and self-reported cumulative deployment-related exposures. 661 Veterans (0.37%) were diagnosed with sarcoidosis in VHA. Logistic regression demonstrated lower odds of sarcoidosis in Hispanic participants (OR 0.08, CI 0.04–0.15) and those who served in the Navy (OR 0.40, CI 0.21–0.72). African American veterans (OR 2.27, CI 1.66–3.11) and former smokers (OR 1.87, CI 1.33–2.62) were at elevated risk. Of the exposure variables, convoy activities had the highest odds of being associated with sarcoidosis and was marginally statistically significant (OR 1.16, CI 1.00–1.35). Sarcoidosis was an uncommon diagnosis among AHOBPR participants and was associated with only one of eight assessed cumulative deployment-related exposures.