Women with autoimmune disease are significantly more likely to face delayed diagnoses than men. A new international study found that women wait longer for a correct diagnosis and are far more likely to have their symptoms attributed to psychiatric or psychosomatic causes. Researchers say the findings point to a systemic gap in how autoimmune conditions are recognized and diagnosed in women.
Women with autoimmune disease are significantly more likely to face delayed diagnoses and psychiatric misdiagnoses than their male counterparts, according to a large international study published in eClinicalMedicine. Researchers from Cambridge University surveyed over 6,600 people with autoimmune conditions and found that women reported longer waits from symptom onset to diagnosis, more healthcare visits before getting answers, and a much higher likelihood of having their symptoms attributed to psychological causes.
The numbers tell a striking story: 43.3% of women said their autoimmune disease had been attributed to psychiatric causes, compared to 32.7% of men. Even after adjusting for age, disease type, continent, and financial situation, women had 46% higher odds of a psychiatric misdiagnosis and 74% higher odds of a psychosomatic one.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: These findings expose a persistent diagnostic gap in autoimmune disease care. For clinicians, it's a reminder to thoroughly evaluate women's physical symptoms before attributing them to psychological causes — delays in autoimmune diagnosis can lead to significant disease progression and reduced quality of life.
