Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications
Publication Date
12-21-2022
Journal
Scientific Reports
DOI
10.1038/s41598-022-24853-8
PMID
36543815
PMCID
PMC9772322
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
12-21-2022
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Humans, United States, Veterans, Retrospective Studies, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sarcoidosis, Risk factors, Respiratory signs and symptoms, Occupational health
Abstract
This study evaluated risk factors of sarcoidosis among Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR) participants using a retrospective age and sex-matched case-control design of AHOBPR participants deployed to Afghanistan or Southwest Asia with and without sarcoidosis diagnosed in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Logistic regression models tested for associations between sarcoidosis and self-reported cumulative deployment-related exposures. 661 Veterans (0.37%) were diagnosed with sarcoidosis in VHA. Logistic regression demonstrated lower odds of sarcoidosis in Hispanic participants (OR 0.08, CI 0.04-0.15) and those who served in the Navy (OR 0.40, CI 0.21-0.72). African American veterans (OR 2.27, CI 1.66-3.11) and former smokers (OR 1.87, CI 1.33-2.62) were at elevated risk. Of the exposure variables, convoy activities had the highest odds of being associated with sarcoidosis and was marginally statistically significant (OR 1.16, CI 1.00-1.35). Sarcoidosis was an uncommon diagnosis among AHOBPR participants and was associated with only one of eight assessed cumulative deployment-related exposures.
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