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Obesity, weight gain in black women linked with increased sarcoidosis risk

Weight gain and obesity in black women aged 21 to 69 years was linked with an increased risk for sarcoidosis, according to study results.

Yvette C. Cozier, DSc, of the Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University, and colleagues assessed the relationship of obesity and weight gain to the incidence of sarcoidosis from the Black Women’s Health Study, a follow-up study of 59,000 black women nationwide aged 21 to 69 years at baseline in 1995.

The researchers observed a positive correlation of sarcoidosis incidence with each measure of BMI as well as weight gain.

Compared with a reference of 20 kg/m² to 24 kg/m² (n = 201), participants with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater (n = 20) were more likely to be diagnosed with sarcoidosis during follow-up (IRR = 1.4; 95% CI, 0.88-2.25).

In terms of cumulative weight gain, participants who gained at least 30 kg (n = 106) were more likely to be diagnosed with sarcoidosis during follow-up when compared with baseline reference (n = 100) of 0 kg to 9 kg (IRR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.1-1.97).

The researchers said there were several limitations to their study, including self-reported height and weight by participants and the fact that participants in the study were volunteers.

“Participants must be sufficiently literate to complete detailed health questionnaires, and thus, study participants underrepresent the 15% of black women nationally of the same ages who did not graduate from high school,” the researchers wrote. – by Ryan McDonald

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.