Studying the epidemiology of Dupuytren's disease allows the identification
of populations at risk and may point to inferences regarding etiology. Data
suggest the highest prevalence of the disease occurs in people of northern
European stock. However, the disease does occur in nearly all populations
examined. Dupuytren's disease occurs more frequently in men than women and
becomes symptomatic approximately 10 years earlier in the lives of men than
in women. Dupuytren's disease has been associated with a number of other d
iseases including seizure disorders, alcoholism, diabetes mellitus, and cig
arette smoking. There is conflicting evidence as to whether manual labor or
HIV seropositivity increases the prevalence of the disorder.