Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects both men and women. Because it is caused due to autoimmunity, it can affect the whole body. There are different types of lupus, and they are the following: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus of the skin, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus. The purpose of this article is to look at top differences between lupus in men and women; read on to know more about this.
What Is Lupus?
Let us start by answering the obvious question, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems. This can cause tissue damage, which leads to organ failure if not taken care of in time. Often, SLE affects organs like kidneys, skin, and joints. Its common symptoms are fatigue, fever, joint pain and swelling, skin rash, and sensitivity to light.
What Is The Ratio Between Men And Women In Lupus Patients?
Most lupus patients are women or the percentage of men with this condition is 4-18%. Also, the male-to-female ratio can vary depending on the age group that you are looking at. For instance, among early adolescents and children, one in four lupus patients are males. The percentage of males diagnosed with lupus in the age group 15 and 50 is approximately 6-10%.
What Is The Mean Age Of Onset For SLE In Men And Women?
For men, the mean age of onset for SLE is 40, which is 10 years later than that for women. Having said that, in women its diagnosis can be delayed, while it is much easier to diagnose in men once they present with symptoms.
If lupus is diagnosed after the age of 55, it is termed as “late-onset lupus”. When you compare SLE patients belonging to all age groups, it is observed that a higher percentage of men are affected with “late-onset lupus”.
Why Is There A Higher Percentage Of Women With Lupus?
When you compare lupus patients belonging to all age groups, there is a higher percentage of women. However, this difference in the rate of diagnosis drops for post-menopausal and pre-pubescent age groups. It is believed that this difference in diagnosis rate between age groups for women is due to the possible link between SLE and sex hormones.
We hope that the details shared clarified some of your doubts about the differences between lupus in men and women.
