title: Frequency of systemic lupus erythematosus in different ethnic groups in Hawaii.
abstract: A survey of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients was conducted in civilian general hospitals on Oahu, Hawaii for the years 1970-75. One hundred sixty-eight cases were ascertained, of which 107  were considered "definite." Age-adjusted prevalence rates per 100,000 were estimated for definite cases at the end of 1975 as follows: white 5.8, Chinese 24.1, Filipino 19.9, part-Hawaiian 20.4, and Japanese 18.2. There was a heavy preponderance of females in each ethnic group, averaging 90% of the definite cases overall. Review of vital statistics for the United States and Hawaii during this period showed age-adjusted SLE mortality rates per million as follows: U.S. white 3.04, U.S. non-white 8.82, Hawaii white 1.89, Hawaii non-white 14.46. The cause of the very high SLE prevalence and mortality in the Oriental and Polynesian people of Hawaii is not clear.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010679:Philippines / Q000208:ethnology; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People