Chances are you’ve heard of lupus before. But beyond knowing that a friend of a friend or a distant relative has it, you know little else. With so many diseases and infections in the world, no one can blame you for not being up-to-date on every single one.
However, with lupus, statistics show it is a significant cause for concern for the Black community, in general, and women of color, specifically. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.5 million Americans have lupus. Of those diagnosed with this autoimmune disease, about nine out of 10 are women between the ages of 15 to 44 (childbearing age).
Sadly, women of color comprise the largest group of people living with this disease in America. Lupus is two to three times more prevalent among African-American women than white women. Not only that, but the severity of the disease is also higher among them.
A study titled “LUMINA” (Lupus in Minority Populations: Nature vs. Nurture) reported that African Americans with lupus are more likely to have organ system involvement and more active disease than white lupus patients. African American and Hispanic women also tend to develop lupus at a younger age and experience more severe complications, leading to a higher mortality rate. Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com
