Autoimmune and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases are chronic issues that are caused by a person’s immune system mistakenly attacking the body’s own healthy tissues and organs. The resulting inflammation and damage can affect almost any part of the body – from the joints and skin to the lungs and kidneys. The rate of autoimmune diseases in the United States are rising, and 80% of patients diagnosed are women. Sex and hormones also play an important role in the influence of symptom manifestation and severity. There are more than 80 autoimmune diseases – none of which has a cure. As a result, treatment focuses on managing symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease as much as possible. For women, who experience different types and severity of symptoms, responses to treatments, and have different needs than men, identifying effective treatments and eliminating barriers to accessing care are critical to improving disproportionate disease burden and health outcomes.
Autoimmune Diseases are part of the SWHR Autoimmune Network, which engages the following focus areas: Autoimmune Diseases, Alopecia Areata, Atopic Dermatitis, Lupus, and Psoriatic Arthritis.
Fact Sheets
This policy brief demonstrates how federal agencies are contributing to improved health and health care for women across the lifespan...
Fact Sheets
This policy brief reviews how the exclusion of any population from autoimmune clinical trials limits our understanding of these diseases...
Fact Sheets
This policy brief discusses the state of autoimmune disease research funding and highlight how robust and sustained for this research...
Fact Sheets
This policy brief highlights how certain coverage policies, such as prior authorization and step therapy, can affect women and their...
While it is unclear what makes someone more at risk for an autoimmune disease, constructs, such as race and ethnicity, and social determinants of health, including education level, income, and other socioeconomic measures, are known to have an impact on health outcomes.
SWHR attended MichBIO 2023 and gave the presentation “Addressing Disparities Through Patient, Provider, and Policymaker Collaborations: Women’s Health and Autoimmune Disease Case Study.”
SWHR hosted its 33rd Annual Awards Gala on April 26, 2023 in Washington, D.C. to honor leaders who are advancing women’s health.
Supporters of SWHR gathered for SWHR’s 33rd Annual Awards Gala on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 to honor leaders who have devoted their careers to improving women’s health and women’s advancement in science and medicine.
Alopecia Areata – Alzheimer’s Disease – Atopic Dermatitis – Autoimmune Diseases – Bone Health – Diagnostics – Endometriosis – Expanded Carrier Screening – Eye Health – Fertility – Heart Health – HPV & Related Diseases – Liver Health – Lupus – Maternal and Infant Health Disparities – Menopause – Migraine – Narcolepsy – Noninvasive Prenatal Screening – Obesity – Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – Psoriatic Arthritis – Sleep Health – Urology – Uterine Fibroids – Vaccines
