Sex Differences in Temporal Trends in Hospitalizations and In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Sarcoidosis in Spain from 2001 to 2020

Abstract

Background: We aimed to analyze temporal trends in hospitalization and in-hospital mortality (IHM) in patients with sarcoidosis in Spain from 2001–2020. Methods: Using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database, we included patients (aged ≥ 20 years) hospitalized with a sarcoidosis code in any diagnostic field. Results: We included 44,195 hospitalizations with sarcoidosis (56.34% women). The proportion of women decreased over time, from 58.76% in 2001 and 2002 to 52.85% in 2019 and 2020 (p < 0.001). The crude rates per 100,000 inhabitants increased by 4.02% per year among women and 5.88% among men. These increments were confirmed using Poisson regression analysis, which yielded an IRR of 1.03; 95% CI 1.01–1.04 for women and 1.04; 95% CI 1.02–1.06 for men. During the study period, no significant sex differences in IHM were recorded. Older age, COVID-19, respiratory failure, and the need for mechanical ventilation were independent predictors of IHM in men and women hospitalized with sarcoidosis, with IHM remaining stable over time. Conclusions: The number of hospital admissions among patients with sarcoidosis in Spain increased threefold from 2001 to 2020. Although the incidence rates were higher in women, the trend followed that the incidence rates between sexes became closer. IHM was similar among men and women, with no significant change over time in either sex after multivariable analysis.