Obesity, sleep apnoea do not contribute to increased sarcoidosis risk

Increased body mass index (BMI) does not seem to raise the risk of developing sarcoidosis, according to a study. Furthermore, the presence of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) even confers protection.

Researchers used data from a US Veterans Administration database. They identified patients with sarcoidosis and OSA and selected a random sample of control patients with no record of sarcoidosis.

All sarcoidosis patients had at least one BMI measurement in the 12 months prior to their diagnosis. For the control patients, the BMI values were obtained over time intervals 12 months prior to a random date.

A total of 10,512 sarcoidosis patients and 2,709,884 control patients were included in the analysis. There was no significant association seen between BMI and the rate of developing sarcoidosis. Post hoc statistical power calculations validated that this null result was meaningful and not due to insufficient statistical power.

Meanwhile, a diagnosis of OSA had a protective association with the odds of developing sarcoidosis. Multivariable conditional logistic regression model revealed a 49.0-percent lower likelihood of sarcoidosis in OSA patients in comparison with control patients. The estimate was adjusted for age, sex, and BMI in the same 12-month period.

Although the primary outcomes were evaluated at 12 months prior to the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, the associations persisted when examined at 3 months and 6 months prior to the diagnosis.