Lupus affects around 1.5 million people in the United States and more than 5 million people worldwide. Around 90 percent of people with lupus are women.
Lupus is not a deadly disease. With proper treatment and frequent follow-up with their doctors, 80 to 90 percent of people with lupus are predicted to have a normal life expectancy.
The effect lupus may have on a person depends on the severity of the disease. Some people who have severe flare-ups could be at greater risk of their lupus being life-threatening.
