Lupus disproportionately affects women from racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States, leading to more severe symptoms and higher mortality rates, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC’s National Lupus Registry estimates that over 200,000 Americans have systemic lupus erythematosus, the most common form of the chronic autoimmune disease. While anyone can develop lupus, approximately 90% of those affected are women.
Black or African American and Hispanic women are often diagnosed with lupus at a younger age compared to non-Hispanic White women. They also experience more severe symptoms and have a greater risk of developing comorbidities, which can lead to faster disease progression and increased risk of death.
Social determinants of health, along with hormonal and genetic factors, contribute to the disparities in lupus outcomes among racial and ethnic minority groups. The CDC emphasizes the need for public health programs to address the multiple factors that lead to these health inequities.
The agency funds several population-based patient registries to better estimate the prevalence of doctor-diagnosed lupus in specific racial and ethnic groups and to track health outcomes after diagnosis.
See “Let’s Make Lupus Visible!” (May 28, 2024)
