J Natl Med Assoc
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In order to provide national data on the epidemiology of sarcoidosis in the United States, data from the National Center for Health Statistics were examined for the period 1968 to 1984. Sarcoidosis appeared among the diagnoses of over 20,000 hospital discharges in recent years. It was mentioned on 605 death certificates in 1982, and as underlying cause of death on 339. ⋯ Race-specific hospital discharge rates must be interpreted with caution in this survey. Nevertheless, patterns were generally consistent with studies of prevalence and incidence. Further descriptive and analytic studies of the epidemiology of sarcoidosis are needed to help identify modifiable risk factors and possible causes.
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As of the end of September 1988, 16,600 cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been reported in New York City, including 5,248 cases among blacks, 32 percent of the total. Of these, 4,220 (80 percent of adults) are men, 1,028 (19 percent of adults) are women, and 195 are children. The major source of the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection within the black community is the intravenous (IV) drug user. ⋯ AIDS education efforts must be increased, and legislation to protect against unauthorized disclosures of confidential health records must be supported. Comprehensive education programs must destigmatize AIDS among health care workers. To keep up with the epidemic, a national prevention strategy must consist of a massive national public health education program; voluntary, confidential counseling and HIV antibody testing expanded into every public and private clinical facility; and major efforts to curtail AIDS transmission by the IV drug user.