Sex Differences on Limitations in Physical Functioning and Overall Quality of Life of People Living with Myasthenia Gravis from the MGFA Global MG Patient Registry (MGFAPR) in the US
Author(s)
Sangha O1, Park M2, Nowak R3, Ricci JF4
1Alira Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 2Alira Health, Basel, Switzerland, 3MGFA, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA, 4Alira Health, Basel, BS, Switzerland
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. Overall, more women than men develop the disease, with early onset mainly in women and later onset in males. Studies reported sex differences on objective and patient-reported outcomes. This study aims to assess the impact of sex differences in clinical practice on limitations in physical functioning and the overall quality of life (QoL) in patients with MG.
METHODS: Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Patient Registry (MGFAPR) is an online voluntary longitudinal patient reported MG registry hosted on Health Storylines platform. The registry collects data from adult (18 years and above) self-reported MG patients through online surveys at the time of registry enrollment and biannual follow ups. Cross-sectional analyses were performed on data from the enrollment surveys from November 2017 to June 2023. Ordered logistic regression and Mann-Whitney Test were used to assess the impact of sex differences in the severity of functionalities controlling for age.
RESULTS: Study included 1,314 patients (59% females), mean age at enrolment of 51.7 and 63.9 years and 10.1 and 7.6 years since diagnosis in females and males, respectively. Sex had a significant (p < 0.001) association with limitations in physical functionalities. Females had statistically significant greater odds of severe to total limitation for walking (OR=1.88, CI=1.51,2.33), fatigue (OR=1.9, CI=1.53,2.37), muscle spasticity and stiffness (OR=1.52, CI=1.23,1.89), hand function (OR=2.15, CI=1.73,2.69), body pain (OR=2.46,CI=1.98,3.07), sensory symptoms of burning, tingling, numbness (OR=1.74, CI=1.4,2.17), bladder control (OR=2.41, CI=1.93,3.00) and cognitive function (OR=2.25, CI=1.81,2.8). MG-ADL and MG-QoL-15r scores were significantly higher in females (p < 0.001), indicating overall greater disease severity and lower quality of life, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: MG has a greater negative impact on physical functioning in females. Understanding the determinants of overall physical health and sex differences should be integrated in the management of patients with MG.
Conference/Value in Health Info
Value in Health, Volume 27, Issue 6, S1 (June 2024)
Code
EPH115
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Study Approaches
Topic Subcategory
Public Health, Registries
Disease
Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal), Neurological Disorders