Suspected cases were identified by patient self-report, physician report and ICD-9 codes. Each case was then evaluated by three pulmonologists using specific criteria for the etiologic study of sarcoidosis (ACCESS). Thirty-eight “definite” cases were identified, and the six-year incidence was 192 out of 100,000.
“The peak annual incidence of 54 per 100,000 person-years occurred between Sept. 11, 2003, and Sept. 11, 2004. Incidence in black responders was nearly double that of white responders. Low FVC was the most common spirometric abnormality,” the researchers stated in the study.
The study concluded that “sarcoid-like granulomatous pulmonary disease is present among the WTC responders. Although the incidence is lower than that reported among firefighters, it is higher than expected.”
This study was published weeks before President Barack Obama signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which creates the WTC Health Program and extends and expands eligibility for first responders suffering from health conditions related to the WTC disaster under the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.
Reference
- Crowley LE, Herbert R, Moline JM, et al. “˜Sarcoid like’ granulomatous pulmonary disease in World Trade Center disaster responders. Am J Ind Med. 2010 Dec. [Epub ahead of print]. doi:10.1002/ajim.20924
