A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.
It is possible to develop Hodgkin’s disease with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing Hodgkin’s disease. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk.
Risk factors for Hodgkin's disease include:
Immunodeficiency or autoimmune disorders, including the presence of HIV, increase your risk of Hodgkin’s disease.
Hodgkin’s disease seems to occur more often in people who have been infected with the Epstein-Barr virus or HIV.
Hodgkin’s disease seems to occur more often in people between the ages of 15-40 and over age 55. Peaks occur at age 20 and age 70.
Slightly more males than females are diagnosed each year.
Having a close relative with Hodgkin’s lymphoma increases your chances of developing the disease. If your parent, child, or sibling has Hodgkin’s disease, your risk is increased threefold. If a younger brother or sister has Hodgkin’s disease, your risk is increased sevenfold.
People of European descent are more likely to develop Hodgkin’s disease than people of other ethnic groups.
Hodgkin disease. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated March 8, 2013. Accessed April 30, 2013.
Hodgkin lymphoma. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society website. Available at: http://www.lls.org... . Updated March 15, 2012. Accessed April 30, 2013.
Hodgkin lymphoma. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/hodgkin . Accessed April 30, 2013.
Last reviewed April 2013 by Mohei Abouzied, MD; Michael Woods, MD
Last Updated: 4/30/2013