Title of Research
Start Date
18-8-2017 10:00 AM
End Date
18-8-2017 11:30 AM
Abstract
Abstract
Autoimmune disorders (AD) are a group of highly disabling pathological conditions that are growing at an alarming rate affecting approximately 8% of the population. These disorders occur more frequently in women, as 78% of those diagnosed are women. Little conclusive research has been conducted as to determine why there is a tremendous sex disparity when looking at the rates. Due to the overall poor health that results from these disorders, there is an increase in the societal burden in terms of health care costs, loss of work productivity and reduced quality of life. The aim of this integrative literature review was to determine the reason for the sex disparity in autoimmune disorders and to determine the collective disease burden of these disorders on women. From this review, a determination will be made as to what education and preventative measure are being directed towards women in an attempt to decrease autoimmune rates. The literature search for the presented topic was found in the databases of CINAHL, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Sources and PubMed. The terms searched while researching this topic included: women, autoimmune, prevalence, and sex disparity. Results revealed that the sex disparity in autoimmunes are due to immunity interaction with female hormones, the presence of a double X chromosome, and immune response variation between males and females making their predisposition complex. With alteration of ICD codes to include contributing autoimmune disorders in death, the true burden of mortality that women face was revealed highlighting the need for further emphasis and research on this topic. Due to the limited research and knowledge, nurses need to be advocates for their female patients as they play a vital role in educating women on their risk and reducing their disease progression.
Keywords: women, autoimmune, prevalence, sex disparities, rise
Included in
Family Practice Nursing Commons, Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Commons, Other Nursing Commons, Public Health and Community Nursing Commons
Rates of Autoimmune Disease Increasing in Women
Abstract
Autoimmune disorders (AD) are a group of highly disabling pathological conditions that are growing at an alarming rate affecting approximately 8% of the population. These disorders occur more frequently in women, as 78% of those diagnosed are women. Little conclusive research has been conducted as to determine why there is a tremendous sex disparity when looking at the rates. Due to the overall poor health that results from these disorders, there is an increase in the societal burden in terms of health care costs, loss of work productivity and reduced quality of life. The aim of this integrative literature review was to determine the reason for the sex disparity in autoimmune disorders and to determine the collective disease burden of these disorders on women. From this review, a determination will be made as to what education and preventative measure are being directed towards women in an attempt to decrease autoimmune rates. The literature search for the presented topic was found in the databases of CINAHL, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Sources and PubMed. The terms searched while researching this topic included: women, autoimmune, prevalence, and sex disparity. Results revealed that the sex disparity in autoimmunes are due to immunity interaction with female hormones, the presence of a double X chromosome, and immune response variation between males and females making their predisposition complex. With alteration of ICD codes to include contributing autoimmune disorders in death, the true burden of mortality that women face was revealed highlighting the need for further emphasis and research on this topic. Due to the limited research and knowledge, nurses need to be advocates for their female patients as they play a vital role in educating women on their risk and reducing their disease progression.
Keywords: women, autoimmune, prevalence, sex disparities, rise