Statistics
Cases of Lupus
- The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus.
- Although lupus can strike men and women of all ages, 90 percent of individuals diagnosed with the disease are women, and 80 percent of those afflicted with systemic lupus develop it between the ages of 15 and 45.
- Cutaneous lupus (affecting only the skin) accounts for approximately 10 percent of all cases.
- In approximately 10 percent 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 percent of people with lupus will have a parent or sibling who already has lupus or may develop lupus.
- About 5 percent of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness.
- Lupus is two to three times more prevalent among women of color -- African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders -- than among Caucasian women.
- 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.
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report in May 2002 which indicated that deaths attributed to lupus increased over a 20-year period, particularly among African American women ages 45-64. However, it is not clear if the rise is the result of an actual increase in lupus mortality or better identification and reporting of deaths due to complications of the disease. Trends in Deaths from SLE -- United States, 1979 - 1998
- A study reported in October 2008 found that the average annual direct health care cost of patients with lupus was $12,643. The study's authors also determined that the mean annual productivity costs (lost hours of productive work) for participants of employment age (between the ages of 18 and 65) was $8,659. Thus, the mean annual total costs (combining direct costs and productivity costs for subjects of employment age) was $20,924.
- According to a Lupus Foundation of America membership survey, one in four patients receive their health care through a government-sponsored program, such as Medicare or Medicaid.
- Two of three lupus patients reported a complete or partial loss of their income because they are unable to work due to complications of lupus.
- One in three have been temporarily disabled by the disease, and one in four currently receive disability payments.