Health Conditions

What are the risk factors?

Risk factors are characteristics that predispose people to develop a condition or illness. Common risk factors for lupus include:

• Being a woman: SLE occurs eight to 10 times more frequently among women than among men - perhaps because of hormonal differences in men and women. No scientific study has confirmed that female hormones are a root cause, but medical professionals have reported lupus flare-ups in women who are experiencing hormonal fluctuations (as with pregnancy and the menstrual cycle, for example) and who use oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies.

• Being an African American, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American: SLE is three times more common among black women than white women. Women of Hispanic, Asian, and Native American descent also are more likely to get SLE than white women.

• Family history: Because lupus has a genetic base, the risk for developing lupus may increase if a first-degree relative, such as a mother or a father, has lupus.