Real-World Resource Utilization and Productivity Loss Among Patients With Myasthenia Gravis in Sweden: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Objective To assess annual healthcare resource utilization including inpatient admission and outpatient visits, employment status, sickness absence associated with myasthenia gravis (MG). Background MG is a rare, chronic debilitating autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by muscle weakness fatigue that leads to hallmark symptoms ptosis, dysphagia, dyspnea limb weakness. Nearly 10% of patients are estimated have treatment-refractory MG. Design/Methods Data were linked from four longitudinal nationwide population-based registries in Sweden. Patients = 1 diagnosis (ICD-10 G70.0) 01/01/2001 12/30/2017 selected. Date 1st the national patient register was designated as index date. The use, for all cause within 1-year post-index period evaluated. Results A total 4,339 newly diagnosed identified 2001 2017. Mean (±SD) age at date 59.8 (±19.5) years; 54% female. During first year post-MG diagnosis, 50.6% patients) had MG-related 23.6% spent >1 month an inpatient. Most (89.3%, n 3,875) specialist visits 16.1% >5 during period. 58.9% all-cause 97.5% used services same Among working =1-year follow-up (n 2,006), 37.3% them not employed; among those 1,250), 44.6% reported absences Conclusions require considerable care both comorbidities over years. An important sub-population (e.g., crisis) may be intensive users care. Future research needs detail treatment pattern outcomes this population.