Lupus Data/Statistics

It is estimated that approximately 1,500,000 Americans and more than five million individuals worldwide have a form of lupus, often manifesting in women between the ages of 15-45.

Ninety percent of the people with lupus are women. Eight of ten new cases of lupus develop among women of childbearing age; however, women of all ages as well as men and children develop the disease.

Lupus is two to three times more common among African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Asians – a disparity that remains unexplained. Specifically, lupus is three times more common in black women than in white women. It is also more common in women of Hispanic/Latina, Asian, and American Indian descent.

Black and Hispanic/Latina women tend to develop symptoms at an earlier age than other women. African Americans have more severe organ problems, especially with their kidneys.

Between 1979 and 1998, death rates from lupus increased nearly 70% among black women between the ages of 45 and 64 years. Possible reasons include an increasing incidence of SLE, later diagnosis, less access to health care, less-effective treatments, and poorer compliance with treatment recommendations.  Each year during the study period, death rates were more than five times higher for women than for men and more than three times higher for blacks than for whites.

About 5% of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness; and 20% of people with lupus will have a close relative (parent or sibling) who already has lupus or may develop lupus.

For more statistics on Lupus and minorities click here . http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5117a3.htm