A risk factor is something that raises your chances of getting a health problem.
You can have MDS with or without those listed below. The more you have, the greater your chances of getting it. Ask your doctor what you can to do lower your risk.
MDS is most common in people aged 65 years and older. MDS also happens more often in men than women. But, women are more likely to have a type of MDS that is caused by a certain problem in the genes.
MDS risk is also higher for:
General information about myelodysplastic syndromes. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/myeloproliferative/patient/myelodysplastic-treatment-pdq#_1. Updated June 14, 2018. Accessed March 15, 2019.
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114054/Myelodysplastic-syndrome-MDS. Updated October 15, 2018. Accessed March 15, 2019.
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Merck Manual Professional Version website Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hematology-and-oncology/leukemias/myelodysplastic-syndrome-mds. Updated December 2018. Accessed March 15, 2019.
Risk factors for myelodysplastic syndromes. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/myelodysplastic-syndrome/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html. Updated January 22, 2018. Accessed March 15, 2019.
Understanding MDS. MDS Foundation website. Available at: https://www.mds-foundation.org/what-is-mds. Accessed March 15, 2019.
Last reviewed December 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP