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 diseases including seizure disorders, alcoholism, diabetes mellitus, and cigarette smoking. There is conflicting evidence as to whether manual labor or HIV seropositivity increases the prevalence of the disorder.