Yes, there are several known risk factors for developing MGUS. While having these risk factors doesn't mean someone will definitely develop it, they do increase the likelihood.
The key risk factors include:
- Age — It becomes more common as people get older, affecting about 2–3% of people over 50 and around 5% of those Show Full Answer
Yes, there are several known risk factors for developing MGUS. While having these risk factors doesn't mean someone will definitely develop it, they do increase the likelihood.
The key risk factors include:
- Age — It becomes more common as people get older, affecting about 2–3% of people over 50 and around 5% of those over 70
- Sex — Males are at higher risk
- Race — Black individuals have a higher risk
- Family history — Having a relative with MGUS or myeloma increases risk Environmental factors may also play a role. For example, exposure to Agent Orange has been linked to MGUS, with studies showing Vietnam veterans who worked directly with it had roughly double the rate of MGUS compared to those who didn't.
It's worth noting that most people with MGUS never progress to myeloma — the risk is about 1% per year. Regular monitoring with blood and urine tests is the standard approach to keep a close eye on things.
July 20
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