Background and aim: To evaluate the incidence of sarcoidosis in Denmark 1980-1994.
Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis were identified from the Danish National Patient Registry. The file contained information about the year in which the diagnosis was reported, gender, age, and residential county.
Results: 5536 persons (2816 men) with sarcoidosis were registered. Median age in men was 38 years, in women 45 years. The male/female incidence ratio was 1.06. The incidence (per 100,000 person years) declined gradually from 8.1 in 1980-1984 to 6.4 in 1990-1994. The overall incidence in 1980-1994 was 7.2. Incidence rates 1980-1994 increased from eastern to western parts of Denmark: Zealand 5.7, Funen 6.8, and Jutland 8.4. The peak incidence in men occurred at 30-34 years of age (14.8). Women displayed two similar peak incidences at 25-29 years of age (10.5) and at 65-69 years of age (11.0).
Conclusion: Incidence rates in the present study are lower compared with previous mass-screening surveys showing an incidence rate of 13.8 (in persons examined). Peak incidences occurred at higher ages in both men and women. Previous surveys showed peak incidences at 20-25 years in men and at 25-30 years and 50 years in women. The overall incidence of sarcoidosis in Denmark ranges from 7-10 per 100,000 person years. With 5,500,000 residents, the expected number of new cases of sarcoidosis in Denmark is between 385 and 550 per year.