Westerberg_2018_Acta.Neurol.Scand_138_557

PURPOSE: To evaluate disease-specific differences between Myasthenia Gravis (MG) subgroups and compare patterns of lifestyle between MG patients and population controls. METHODS: All MG patients (n = 70) in Jonkoping County, Sweden, were invited to answer a disease-specific questionnaire, containing questions about disease-specific data, lifestyle, comorbidity, and mental fatigue. The patients were clinically evaluated. Four hundred age- and gender-matched population controls were invited to answer the nondisease-specific part of the questionnaire. Disease-specific issues were compared between MG subgroups. Lifestyle-related factors and concomitant conditions were compared to the population controls. RESULTS: Forty MG patients and 188 population controls participated in the study. In the late-onset MG (LOMG; N = 18) subgroup, the male predominance was higher than previously reported. In the early-onset MG (EOMG; N = 17) subgroup, time to diagnosis was longer, fatigue was higher, and bulbar weakness was the dominant symptom (65%). Compared to their matched population controls, LOMG patients were more obese (OR = 13.7, P = 0.015), ate less fish (OR = 4.1, P = 0.012), tended to smoke more (OR = 4.1, P = 0.086), and tended to be employed as manual laborers more often (OR = 2.82, P = 0.083). Mental health problems and sickness benefits were more common among MG patients than in controls, and MG patients were less regularly doing focused physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider disease-specific differences when tailoring the management of individual MG patients. There is a need for improved knowledge on how to apply primary and secondary prevention measures to lifestyle disorders in MG patients without risk of deterioration.