Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42174489›Full record

Observational studyBMC public health2026

Epidemiology and demographic trends of sarcoidosis in southern West Bank, Palestine: a retrospective study (2019-2024).

Mohanad Saleh, Tasneem Mustafa Almashaiekh, Rahaf Wasfi Thabaineh, Rawda Qasrawi, Ikram Aldarabee, Rana Wridat, Motaz Natsheh, Yousef Atef Abu Asbeh

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mohanad Saleh *Department of Medicine, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine.ORCID 0000-0002-2324-1224
Tasneem Mustafa Almashaiekh *College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine. tasneemmustafa2002@gmail.com.ORCID 0009-0006-9749-6816
Rahaf Wasfi ThabainehCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine.ORCID 0009-0009-3719-8026
Rawda QasrawiPalestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Hospital, Hebron, Palestine.ORCID 0009-0008-4787-6815
Ikram AldarabeeCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine.ORCID 0009-0005-3304-5023
Rana WridatCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine.ORCID 0009-0008-6395-6452
Motaz NatshehDepartment of Pathology, Al Ahli Hospital, Hebron, Palestine.ORCID 0009-0005-0800-7359
Yousef Atef Abu AsbehThoracic Surgery Unit, Al Ahli Hospital, Hebron, Palestine.ORCID 0000-0001-5926-8990

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology that most commonly affects the lungs and hilar lymph nodes. Although it has been reported worldwide, its epidemiology and clinical characteristics in Palestine remain unclear. This study aimed to estimate the incidence, prevalence, and sociodemographic characteristics of sarcoidosis diagnosed between 2019 and 2024 in the southern West Bank of Palestine (Hebron and Bethlehem).

methodsA retrospective observational study was conducted using medical records from Al-Ahli Hospital and affiliated pathology laboratories. Data collected included annual incidence and prevalence rates, age at diagnosis, sex, diagnostic method, biopsy site, smoking status, and comorbidities. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and inferential analyses included chi-square tests for categorical variables and independent-samples t-tests for continuous variables. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27, with [Formula: see text] considered statistically significant.

resultsA total of 62 patients were diagnosed with sarcoidosis during the study period. The annual incidence increased from 0.41 to 1.92 per 100,000 population between 2019 and 2024, while prevalence increased from 0.41 to 5.67 per 100,000. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was [Formula: see text] years, and most cases occurred in individuals aged ≥ 36 years. Females accounted for 61.3% of cases. Diagnosis was histologically confirmed in 83.9% of patients, most commonly from thoracic lymph nodes (46.8%). Statistically significant gender differences were observed in smoking status ([Formula: see text]) and hypothyroidism ([Formula: see text]), while no statistically significant difference were observed in mean age at diagnosis between males and females ([Formula: see text]). Trend analysis showed a statistically significant increase in reported incidence over time.

conclusionSarcoidosis incidence and prevalence increased in the southern West Bank, particularly after 2022. The disease was observed more frequently among middle-aged adults and females. The observed increase likely reflects improvements in diagnostic capacity and greater clinical awareness; however, a true rise in disease occurrence cannot be excluded. These findings highlight the need for improved diagnostic access, clinician education, and the establishment of a national sarcoidosis registry to improve disease surveillance and patient outcomes in Palestine.

trial registrationNot applicable. This study did not involve a healthcare intervention in human participants.

Indexed as

SarcoidosisAdolescentAdultAgedFemaleHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedMiddle EastPrevalenceRetrospective StudiesYoung AdultBethlehemEpidemiologyHebronIncidencePrevalenceRetrospective studySarcoidosis

Identifiers

PMID42174489
PMCPMC13371677

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.