BPDCN can affect people of any age, but it is most commonly diagnosed in older adults. It occurs more often in men than in women.

BPDCN can also develop in patients who already have a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). People who have MDS, CMML, or AML with skin lesions should be evaluated for BPDCN.

As research continues, scientists are gaining a better understanding of patterns of risk and how the disease affects different populations.