Background: The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) influenced millions of lives, not only healthy subjects but also patients with various comorbidities. Of those, interstitial lung disease (ILD) is known to be specifically vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2, sometimes leading to a lethal outcome. Sarcoidosis, one of the ILDs, has been suggested to be more susceptible to COVID-19, but the results of previous studies are in disagreement.
Methods: We performed a meta-analysis, attempting to explain the correlation between COVID-19 and sarcoidosis. Electronic databases were searched and selected for analysis under pre-established criteria. Risk ratio (RR) for incidence and odds ratio (OR) for severity, i.e., intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death, were calculated with (95%) confidence interval (CI) using R Statistical Software (version 4.3.1).
Results: The RR of COVID-19 incidence on sarcoidosis patients was 5.86 (95% CI: 8.02–11.91). Admission of sarcoidosis patients to the ICU who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 was 2.48 (95% CI: 2.04–3.01). Death of sarcoidosis by COVID-19 was also significantly higher compared with healthy controls (OR =1.95, 95% CI: 1.58–2.41). Both morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 was significantly higher in the sarcoidosis patients.
Conclusions: Sarcoidosis patients are undeniably prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection, with increased severity, morbidity and greater mortality of COVID-19. Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 for sarcoidosis therefore is beneficial, and may be a compulsory measure. Further studies regarding other factors are needed for a better understanding of the correlation between sarcoidosis and COVID-19.
Keywords: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); infections; meta-analysis; sarcoidosis
Journal of Thoracic Disease
Meta-analysis
Not applicable
COVID-19 infection and pulmonary sarcoidosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of morbidity, severity and mortality
28-Feb-2025
Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-24-1620/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.