Objective: To investigate the prevalence, clinical features and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among sarcoidosis patients. Methods: We retrospectively collected features of COVID-19 in a cohort of patients with sarcoidosis followed in a single tertiary university hospital.
Results: Among 199 sarcoidosis patients [mean age 58.8 (±14) years, 86 (43.2%) men], 26 (13%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 [definite (n=7), probable (n=12) and possible (n=7)]. Twenty-four out of 26 patients (92%) had at least one comorbidity, and 11/26 (42%) had two or more comorbidities. Demographic and clinical features of COVID-19 positive patients were similar to those of COVID-19 negative patients. The administration of hydroxychloroquine or immunosuppressant was not associated with the occurrence or the severity of COVID-19. Four out of 26 (15.4%) COVID-19 positive patients required admission to hospital and two of them died. Hospitalized patients [mean age of 61 (±11.5) years] were receiving higher doses of long term treatment with corticosteroids than non-hospitalized patients; 4/4 had pulmonary and 2/4 cardiac involvement of sarcoidosis, and all one or more comorbidity.
Conclusion: The prevalence of COVID-19 in sarcoidosis is slightly higher to that of the general population. Almost half of the COVID-19 positive patients have two or more comorbidities and about 15% present a severe course.