Metabolic & Autoimmune Disorders in Women
Session Overview
Metabolic and autoimmune disorders represent a major and growing dimension of women’s health, characterized by complex interactions between hormonal status, immune function, and systemic metabolism. These conditions, which include obesity, diabetes, and a spectrum of female-predominant autoimmune diseases, have distinct presentations, trajectories, and therapeutic challenges in women. This session integrates endocrinological, immunological, and translational perspectives to examine the unique pathophysiology, life-stage considerations, and emerging management strategies for these interconnected disorders.
Why This Session Matters Now
The rising global prevalence of metabolic disease, coupled with the persistent female predominance in many autoimmune conditions, underscores a critical need for a sex- and gender-informed approach to research and clinical care. Emerging science is revealing profound bidirectional links between hormonal axes, adipose tissue biology, and immune regulation, creating new paradigms for understanding disease risk and treatment response. This session addresses the imperative to move beyond siloed specialties, fostering an integrated understanding of how metabolic and immune dysregulation co-occur and influence long-term health outcomes across a woman’s lifespan.
Key Scientific and Clinical Themes
Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Women
Examination of the unique pathophysiology of adiposity and metabolic dysregulation in women, including the roles of sex hormones, body fat distribution, and the impact on reproductive, cardiovascular, and overall health.
Insulin Resistance and Diabetes Across Life Stages
Focus on the distinct presentation, risks, and management considerations for prediabetes and diabetes in women, from polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescence to gestational diabetes and the heightened postmenopausal cardiovascular risk.
Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders with Female Predominance
Discussion of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical management of autoimmune conditions such as thyroiditis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis, with an emphasis on their interplay with reproductive transitions and metabolic health.
Hormonal–Immune System Interactions
Exploration of the mechanistic links between estrogen, progesterone, and immune cell function, and how these interactions modulate susceptibility to and activity of both autoimmune and metabolic diseases.
Post-Infectious and Long COVID Endocrine Effects
Analysis of the emerging evidence regarding the long-term metabolic and autoimmune sequelae of infections, particularly SARS-CoV-2, and their disproportionate impact on women’s endocrine and immune health.
Precision and Personalized Metabolic Medicine
Review of advancing strategies for personalized risk stratification and treatment, including the use of biomarkers, -omics technologies, and digital health tools to tailor prevention and management plans for metabolic and immune disorders.
Nature of Research in This Field
Research at the intersection of metabolism and autoimmunity is inherently translational and interdisciplinary. It is driven by large-scale epidemiology, mechanistic studies in model systems, and a robust pipeline of clinical trials testing novel pharmacological agents. The field demands a life-course approach and is increasingly focused on unraveling heterogeneity within disease categories to enable more precise, effective, and personalized interventions for women.
Who Should Attend
This session is designed for:
- Endocrinologists, rheumatologists, immunologists, and diabetologists
- Obesity medicine specialists and researchers in adipose tissue biology
- Reproductive medicine specialists and physicians managing women’s health across the lifespan
- Translational scientists investigating hormonal-immune-metabolic axes
- Primary care and internal medicine physicians managing complex chronic disease in women
Session Perspective
The convergence of metabolic and autoimmune pathology in women highlights the insufficiency of viewing these systems in isolation. This session provides a platform to synthesize emerging knowledge on their interconnectedness, viewing hormonal status as a key modulator of both metabolic and immune homeostasis. By bridging disciplines, the discussion aims to catalyze a more holistic, mechanistic, and personalized approach to preventing and treating some of the most common and debilitating chronic conditions affecting women’s health.
If your research aligns with this session, we invite you to submit an abstract for consideration.
