Does lupus occur more often in certain geographical areas?
There is no clear evidence that lupus is more common in specific geographical areas. However, ongoing research studies looking at “clusters” of lupus do suggest the disease may be more common in certain types of environments where environmental triggers may exist. Environmental triggers of lupus include exposure to silica dust in agricultural or industrial settings and possibly pesticides. More research is needed in this area, however, to further explore geographical connections to lupus.
Medically reviewed on January 30, 2014