Study Looks at Age of Lupus Diagnosis and Impact on Marital Status
New research from Quebec suggests women with lupus are less likely to be married compared to the general population, particularly those who were diagnosed before the age of 30. Marital status was especially low among women with childhood onset lupus (cSLE).
The study assessed marital status among 382 people with lupus (349 females and 33 males) and compared participants with the general population based on their gender and age of lupus onset. The researchers found one-third of women with cSLE were married or in common-law marriages, which was 28% lower than their general population counterparts. Additionally, 50% of women diagnosed between age 18 and 30 were married or in common-law marriages, which was 14% less than general population rates. Researchers did not find a significant difference for women diagnosed after age 30 or for males, however.
There are several possible explanations for these discrepancies, and further research is needed to understand how the disease impacts relationships. Lupus is associated with a range of physical and emotional challenges that may make long-term relationships difficult, and women diagnosed with the disease early in life may be particularly affected due to potentially more severe health complications and distressing physical symptoms caused by the disease itself or its treatment. Learn about coping with lupus.