Social aspects in myasthenia gravis.
The myasthenics in Finland (n = 240) have been registered and treated in one center for more than 10 years. Of this material, an investigation was performed of their medico-social state as of 1 January, 1975. The study comprised 88 per cent (210) of the patients. In the working age (16-64 years) were 181 patients. Compared to the total Finnish population, the myasthenic patients lived more often in urban districts, had had more intermediate-school and university--but less vocational-school education, and belong as a whole to "higher" social classes. The severity and the variability of the disease naturally influenced the disability. A change from severe to slight symptoms occurred in 38 per cent, and 12 per cent of the myasthenics were in complete remission (2/3 of whom had had severe symptoms). One third (72) got a full pension because of myasthenia, and about one tenth (25) because of some other reason. Of these who got a full pension for myasthenia, 7 per cent were in complete remission without any myasthenic symptoms. The influence of thymectomy on the degree of disability was impressive, since more than 50 per cent of disabled myasthenic patients returned to work thereafter. Thus, because of the unpredictable, but on the long term quite favourable course, a full pension should not be prescribed early (during the first 5 years) of the disease. An active treatment may also change the outlook for even the most severely disabled patients.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000601:surgery; D010415:Pensions; D011379:Prognosis; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013934:Thymectomy; D014505:Urban Population; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation