title: Clinical features and impact of myasthenia gravis disease in Australian patients.
abstract: We performed a community-based survey of 165 Australian patients with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG). MG is an autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction causing fatiguable muscle weakness. Patients with early onset MG (<40 years of age) were more frequently female (22 males, 60 females) whereas patients with late onset MG (>40 years of age) were more frequently male (50 males, 28 females; p < 0.001). Triggering and exacerbating factors included physical and emotional stress, infections, surgery or trauma, seasonal changes and medications. The co-occurrence of other immune-related diseases was reported by 54% of patients. The median MG quality of life (QOL) score was 92 (range: 24-186). The factor most strongly associated with poor QOL was depression. Only 40.6% of patients were working at the time of the survey and of these, almost half had required sick leave due to MG in the past 12 months. A further 39.4% had stopped work due to MG and 19.4% having to change occupation. Full-time or part-time care was required by 29% of patients and government financial support was received by 52.7%.
authors.affiliation: Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Butterfield Street, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia; University of Queensland, Centre of Clinical Research, Herston, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: stefan_blum@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.affiliation: Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Butterfield Street, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Butterfield Street, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia; Pathology Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gillis
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: McEniery
authors.affiliation: University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reddel
authors.affiliation: Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Butterfield Street, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia; University of Queensland, Centre of Clinical Research, Herston, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McCombe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000473:pathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiology; Myasthenia gravis; Quality of life; Thymectomy; Triggers