Sarcoidosis Risk

Sarcoidosis affects people of all ages and races worldwide.

It occurs mostly in:

• Adults between the ages of 20 and 40
• African Americans (especially women)
• People of Asian, German, Irish, Puerto Rican, and Scandinavian origin.

In the United States, African Americans have a higher sarcoidosis risk and get it more often and more severely than Caucasians.

Studies have shown that sarcoidosis is more likely to affect certain organs in certain populations. For example,

• Sarcoidosis of the heart and eye appears to be more common in Japan.
• Painful skin lumps on the legs occur more often in people from Northern Europe.

People with a higher sarcoidosis risk and who are more likely to get it include:

• Health care workers
• Nonsmokers
• Elementary and secondary school teachers
• People exposed to agricultural dust, insecticides, pesticides, or mold
• Firefighters.

Brothers and sisters, parents, and children of people who have sarcoidosis are more likely than others to have a higher sarcoidosis risk.