Myasthenia Gravis-Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score is the strongest predictor of the MG quality of life (MG-QoL15r) among the other clinical scales for myasthenia gravis

Abstract

Background: The increasing incidence worldwide of autoimmune diseases in general, including myasthenia gravis (MG), requires the recognition of the burden of these diseases on the quality of the patients’ lives. Myasthenia gravis, with its unique fluctuating symptoms that exacerbate with effort, interferes greatly with daily life activities. The aim of this work is to study various factors that influence the quality of life in MG patients.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that included a sample of Egyptian MG patients attending Alexandria University hospital neuromuscular clinic. The recruited patients were evaluated clinically, using MG Foundation of America (MGFA) classification, the Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) scale, the MG Composite (MGC) scale, the MG-Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL), and the MG-Quality of Life 15 (MG-QoL15r). The data collected was analyzed to correlate between the different parameters and the MG-QoL15r total score.

Results: Forty-Five MG patients are included; of which thirty-five patients have acetylcholine receptors antibodies positive results. Various factors as neck and jaw weakness, long disease duration, high scores of the MG-ADL, MGC, QMG and more severe MGFA status were positively correlated with the MG-QoL15r total score. However, multivariant regression analysis showed that MG-ADL score is the sole strong predictor of the quality of life in MG patients.

Conclusion: MG-ADL score is the strongest predictor of the quality of life in MG patients among the other clinical scales of MG.