Diagnostic delay of sarcoidosis: protocol for an integrated systematic review

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a rare systemic inflammatory granulomatous disease with broad manifestation ranging from acute epileptic seizures to fatigue and pain syndromes that are subject to the organ involved. Delays in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis are attributed to the lack of a single diagnostic test or unified commonly used diagnostic criteria, and diagnosis based on exclusion of possible alternative diagnoses. We aim to systematically review the evidence about diagnostic delay in sarcoidosis to elucidate the causes and consequences of diagnostic delay, including people with sarcoidosis’ experiences. This will inform the development of interventions, tools, and health policies aiming to improve diagnostic efficiency and patients’ experiences of sarcoidosis.