Socioeconomic Status: 11% of Asian Americans and 17% of Pacific Islanders in the U.S. live in poverty. Of these percentages, those with lupus may not be able to afford proper care or quality food. Additionally, since a lower socioeconomic status may lead to increased stress, lupus flare ups may increase in severity and frequency.
Education: Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders lupus patients with a lack of formal education and lower health literacy may have a delayed or incorrect diagnosis. Additionally, a study found that lower health literacy can lead to worsened lupus symptoms, which is a problem since many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders do not have access to formal education.
Environment: Asian and Pacific Islander countries are typically hot with a lot of sunlight. This can exacerbate lupus symptoms and flare ups, as light sensitivity is a typical symptom of lupus.
Cultural Pressure: In AAPI cultures, discussing illness is frowned upon due to its “taboo” and “inappropriate” nature. As such, an Asian American or Pacific Islander patient may not seek proper care or alert someone of their condition due to cultural bias against illness. In an interview with Eliza Ngan-Dittgen, the program supervisor for the Lupus Asian Network, she stated that “I don’t want to be seen as nagging and causing trouble [because of my health issues].”
