title: Quality of life in 188 patients with myasthenia gravis in China.
abstract: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a kind of chronic autoimmune disease which can weaken patients' motor function and, furthermore, produce negative impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The primary purpose of this research was to evaluate factors that might affect the HRQoL of MG patients. A cross-sectional clinical research was carried out including 188 successive patients with MG. Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) classification and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) score were applied to assess the severity of the disease. The Medical Outcome Survey 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to estimate the HRQoL. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) were utilized to measure the depression and anxiety symptom. Factors may influence the HRQoL of MG patients include age, educational level, occupation, the situation of the thymus, the type of MG and generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG), the severity of the disease and the psychological disorder. Higher QMG and HARS scores were two significant factors that can prognosticate lower Physical Composite Score (PCS) and Mental Composite Score (MCS), while older age was just a significant factor which has prognostic value for lower PCS. The results of this research may have a potential guiding significance for the clinical treatment strategy and improve the quality of life in patients with MG consequently. In addition to the treatment of physical symptoms, the psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression should be concerned as well.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital , Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi 710038 , China.
authors.forename: Yongxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital , Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi 710038 , China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital , Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi 710038 , China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital , Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi 710038 , China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital , Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi 710038 , China.
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital , Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi 710038 , China.
authors.forename: Xianni
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital , Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi 710038 , China.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital , Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi 710038 , China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital , Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi 710038 , China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital , Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi 710038 , China.
authors.forename: Hongzeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital , Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi 710038 , China.
authors.forename: Zhuyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000523:psychology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: SF-36; health-related quality of life; myasthenia gravis