Demographic Information on Lupus

Cases of Lupus

• The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that approximate 1.5-million Americans have a form of lupus.
• Although lupus can strike men and women of all ages, 90% of individuals diagnosed with the disease are women, and 80% of those afflicted with systemic lupus develop it between the ages of 15 and 45.
• Approximately 70% of lupus cases are systemic. In about 50% of these cases, a major organ will be affected.
• Discoid lupus (affecting only the skin) accounts for approximately 10% of all cases.
• In approximately 10% of all lupus cases, individuals will have symptoms and signs of more than one connective tissue disease, including lupus. A physician may use the term "overlap syndrome" or "mixed connective tissue disease" to describe the illness.
• 20% of people with lupus will have a parent or sibling who already has lupus or may develop lupus.
• Only about 5% of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness.
• Lupus is two to three times more prevalent among people of color, including African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans.
• It is difficult to determine the annual number of new lupus cases, or the number of individuals who die from health complications of the disease. However, due to improved diagnosis and disease management, most people with the disease will go on to live a normal life span.