Risk factors for developing lupus

Your sex. Women are more likely to develop lupus.

Your age. Symptoms and diagnosis occur most often between the ages of 15 and 44. Symptoms of lupus will occur before age 18 in only 15 percent of the people who are later diagnosed with the disease.

Your race/ethnicity. In the United States, lupus is more common in people of color than in the Caucasian population. This includes African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. It also appears that lupus develops at an earlier age and is more severe among members of these ethnic groups.

Your family history. Relatives of people with lupus have a 5-13 percent chance of developing lupus. However, only about 5 percent of children will develop lupus if their mother has it.