socioecological features of the epidemiology of sarcoidosis in the poltava region, Ukraine

Introduction: Lung sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that can affect various organs and systems of a person. Due to the lack of a uniform standardized approach to the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, the epidemiological pattern is heterogeneous and depends on many factors. The aim: To investigate the correlation between the number of patients with sarcoidosis among the population of the Poltava region (Ukraine) and the ecological characteristics of the industrial activity of the region in comparison with the data on the availability of subspecialists in respiratory diseases. Materials and methods: The study is based on a retrospective analysis of patients with sarcoidosis living in the Poltava region (Ukraine) for the period from 2008 to 2018. Results: The analysis of the correlation between the intensity of environmental impacts on the region and the number of patients with sarcoidosis did not reveal statistically significant changes. An odds ratio (OR) of the occurrence of sarcoidosis among the urban population has not experienced significant dynamics (OR 1,337, 95% CI: 0.96-1.86) compared with those living in rural areas. The number of specialists performing the duties of a pulmonologist in the region is associated with a significantly higher number of registered patients with various forms of sarcoidosis (r=0.27, p=0.04). Conclusions: There was no reliable relationship between the risk of sarcoidosis and habitat in areas with increased ecological and industrial load in the Poltava region. The uneven distribution of specialized medical care reduces the patient's odds of establishing a diagnosis of sarcoidosis in the countryside.