Autoimmune disease awareness Key facts about autoimmune conditions Did you know that most thyroid conditions are autoimmune conditions? Take a look at some of the key facts about autoimmune disease. What are autoimmune conditions? Autoimmune conditions occur when your immune system produces antibodies that mistakenly attack healthy cells. There are over 100 different autoimmune conditions. Autoimmune conditions affect around 10% of the population and are more common in women. They can occur at any age but the average age at diagnosis is 54 What is autoimmune thyroid disease? Antibodies either destroy thyroid cells or stimulate the thyroid to produce excess thyroid hormones. Most thyroid disorders are caused by autoimmune conditions. For every 10 people diagnosed, 9 will be women. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the name for autoimmune hypothyroidism. It is the underlying cause in 9 in 10 cases of hypothyroidism. Graves’ disease is the name for autoimmune hyperthyroidism. It is the underlying cause in 8 in 10 cases of hyperthyroidism. Who do some people have multiple autoimmune conditions? Up to one-third of people with an autoimmune condition live with more than one. Autoimmune conditions often run in families. It is thought that autoimmune conditions are caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors like smoking, diet and pollution. Some autoimmune diseases are associated with one another. Where people with autoimmune thyroid conditions have another autoimmune disorder, the most common are rheumatoid arthritis, pernicious anaemia, systemic lupus erythematosus, Addison’s disease, coeliac disease, vitiligo, type 1 diabetes, and Sjögren’s syndrome. People with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes, Addison’s disease, and other autoimmune conditions should have their thyroid function tested regularly. What research is being done into autoimmune conditions? Many treatments for autoimmune conditions help with symptoms rather than stopping the underlying cause (immune attack). Researchers are trying to develop treatments to slow down this immune attack or prevent it. We are part of the Connect Immune Research (CIR) Partnership. This is a growing partnership of 16 organisations working together to understand how different autoimmune conditions are linked, and raise awareness of this. Manage Cookie Preferences Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility