Black Americans face significantly higher rates of lupus and worse outcomes compared to other racial groups, according to data from the Lupus Foundation of America. The chronic autoimmune disease affects 34-51% of African Americans, compared to just 13-23% of white patients.
Health experts point to a range of factors contributing to this disparity, including genetics, socioeconomic issues, and inequities in healthcare access and quality. Black and Hispanic women with lupus tend to develop the disease at younger ages and experience more severe symptoms.
“I wasn’t diagnosed with lupus until I was 29, literally months from my 30th birthday,” said Jawanna Perine, who suffered symptoms since childhood. “All those years prior to that I had pretty much been misdiagnosed.”
Research shows Black patients are less likely to receive standard vaccine recommendations from doctors, despite higher risks of serious infections.
“Black people, Latino people, Asian people seem to contract it more than any other,” Perine noted.
Linda, a 32-year-old diagnosed in 2019, emphasized lupus’ hereditary nature and impact on minority groups. “It’s part genetics and especially as Black women, it’s also I feel a part epigenetic,” she said, citing historical trauma.
Experts stress the importance of addressing social determinants of health to improve outcomes. While anyone can develop lupus, certain groups face elevated risks, including women ages 15-44 and racial/ethnic minorities.
See “How Lupus Disproportionately Impacts Black Americans and Why it Matters” (June 27, 2024)
