Epidemiology and Characteristics of Sarcoidosis Across Diverse Ethnic Groups in Israel

Sarcoidosis is a multi-organ granulomatous inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, exhibiting significant regional and ethnic variability in disease extent and clinical features.

To investigate the clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis among Jewish and Arab populations in Israel and to compare these findings with global data.

We conducted a retrospective review on sarcoidosis patients at Rambam Health Care Campus during 2015-2023. Patients were categorized by ethnicity. Their demographic and clinical data were collected and analysed using appropriate statistical methods.

The study included 284 patients (149 Jewish, 135 Arab). Jewish patients had a higher mean age at diagnosis. Diagnosis was biopsy-proven in 82% of cases, with endobronchial ultrasound being the most common diagnostic procedure. Lung involvement was present in 88% of patients, with no significant difference between Jewish and Arab populations. No significant differences were found in pulmonary function tests, blood tests, or Scadding stage distribution between the ethnic groups. When comparing the Jewish and Arab populations to the global data, lung involvement was significantly less frequent in the Jewish population. The Israeli population, both Jewish and Arab populations, had a significantly higher rate of joint manifestations whereas eye and skin manifestations appeared to be significantly lower in the Israeli population compared to global data.

This study highlights the diverse clinical presentations of sarcoidosis among Israeli populations compared to world data, with notable differences between Jewish and Arab patients, and within subgroups of these populations.