Women ‘more likely to be told autoimmune conditions are psychological’

A major study from Cambridge University highlights a troubling gender disparity in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, revealing that women are far more likely than men to be dismissed as having psychological symptoms rather than receiving proper medical evaluation. The research indicates these women also endure significantly longer delays in securing a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Autoimmune conditions, which affect roughly one in ten people worldwide and can manifest as chronic fatigue, muscle pain, and skin rashes, appear to be particularly prone to misdiagnosis. The findings raise concerns about systemic biases in healthcare that may leave women with these conditions struggling for answers.

Cambridge University study suggests stark gender divide in misdiagnosis, with women also waiting longer for treatmentWomen with autoimmune conditions are up to 74% more likely than men to be told their symptoms are psychological or psychosomatic, and face much longer waits for a diagnosis and treatment, a study suggests.Hundreds of millions of people – about one in 10 globally – are affected by autoimmune conditions, which can cause a range of health issues including fatigue, muscle pain and rashes. Continue reading...