A new international study reveals that women with autoimmune diseases experience longer diagnostic delays and higher rates of mental health misdiagnoses than men.
Key facts
- •The study was published in eClinicalMedicine on October 12 and included 6,607 participants.
- •Autoimmune diseases are estimated to affect around 4.6% of the U.S. population.
- •Women are almost two times as likely as men to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.
- •Nearly 32% of females faced delays of four years or more before diagnosis, compared to 26% of males.
- •43.3% of female participants reported having symptoms mistaken for mental health issues, compared to 32.7% of males.
A new international study published in eClinicalMedicine on October 12 found that women with autoimmune diseases often experience longer delays in receiving a correct diagnosis compared to men. The research also shows that female patients report higher rates of being misdiagnosed, particularly with mental health or psychosomatic conditions.
By the numbers
Survey Details and Participant Demographics
Researchers conducted an online survey between December 7, 2024, and March 7, 2025, involving 6,607 participants aged 18 and older with confirmed autoimmune or rheumatic diseases. Of the participants, 91.2% identified as female, and the majority lived in the United Kingdom. Autoimmune thyroid disease was reported as the most common condition.
Diagnostic Delays and Healthcare Visits
Nearly 32% of females experienced diagnostic delays of four years or more from symptom onset, compared to about 26% of males. Conversely, nearly 50% of males were diagnosed within a year of symptom onset, versus 40% of females. Women also made more healthcare visits before diagnosis, with 26.2% reporting 11 or more visits compared to 18.4% of men.
Rates of Misdiagnosis
Women reported higher rates of having their symptoms mistaken for mental health issues (43.3% of females vs. 32.7% of males) or psychosomatic causes (33.9% of females vs. 21.5% of males). Factors such as disease presentation, research gaps, fragmented care, unconscious medical bias, and socioeconomic variables contributed to these disparities.
Timeline
- October 12The study was published in eClinicalMedicine.
- December 7, 2024Researchers began conducting the online survey for adults with autoimmune or rheumatic diseases.
- March 7, 2025The online survey period for the research concluded.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Healthline.
