Background
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem autoimmune disease that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. This study aims to identify factors associated with in-hospital death for sarcoid patients on a national level.
Methods
We performed a medical records review study of all adult sarcoid hospitalizations from 2016 to 2020 National Inpatient Sample database. A univariable screen followed by multivariable analysis was completed to identify predictors of in-hospital death among sarcoid patients.
Results
There were 405,650 admissions with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, 10,210 of whom died. Multivariable analysis showed the following factors were independently associated with a higher odds of in-hospital death: age (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.026–1.034), Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.066–1.116), male sex (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.101–1.331), other race (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.073–1.954), arrhythmia/heart blocks (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.617–1.995), cirrhosis/hepatic failure (OR, 8.26; 95% CI, 6.928–9.844), hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (OR, 11.15; 95% CI, 4.172–29.802), infection (OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 3.007–3.633), interstitial lung disease (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.193–1.438), heart failure/myocarditis (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.157–1.436), neurologic diagnoses (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.241–1.502), and pulmonary hypertension (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.305–1.652).
Conclusions
Our multiyear national analysis showed that 2.5% of hospital admissions with a sarcoid diagnosis ended in death. The following factors were associated with death: age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, male sex, other race, arrhythmia/heart blocks, cirrhosis/hepatic failure, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, infection, interstitial lung disease, heart failure/myocarditis, neurologic diseases, and pulmonary hypertension. This information can help clinicians by improving awareness of these life-threatening complications because early recognition and intervention may improve inpatient sarcoid outcomes.